# HMRC to take money directly from bank accounts of tax dodgers

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/hmrc-to-take-money-directly-from-bank-accounts-of-tax-dodgers/
- Published: 2026-10-25T13:57:37+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-25T14:10:40+00:00
- Original publisher: The Independent (publisher lean: Left)
- Original article: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/hmrc-tax-bank-accounts-healey-budget-b3072948.html
- Topics: Politics

## Key points

- HMRC may take tax debts directly from bank accounts.
- The minimum threshold could fall for repeat offenders.
- Tax advisers are calling for safeguards.

## Summary

Chancellor John Healey is expected to announce powers allowing HM Revenue & Customs to take money directly from the bank accounts of people who repeatedly fail to pay tax. The proposal aims to recover some of the UK’s estimated £60 billion in tax debt, but has drawn criticism over the risk of targeting people unfairly or leaving them short of money.

HMRC can currently recover debts above £1,000 from accounts if at least £5,000 remains afterwards; the proposed threshold could fall to only a few pounds for repeat tax dodgers, with fines and interest also recoverable. HMRC estimates 4.8 million people and companies owe less than £10,000 each, amounting to about £4 billion, while its debt measures are forecast to bring in £10.7 billion by 2025-26 at a cost of £368 million. The tax technicians’ association says safeguards should be assured before the powers are introduced.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.