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IN HER MAJESTY'S SNEAKY SERVICE

June 13, 2008

The British tax authorities put a tax evasion hotline in place. It hasn't been a roaring success:

Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs new tax evasion hotline has been flooded with calls making malicious and unfounded allegations, MPs have been told.
One woman made 68 calls to report her husband - none of which had led to an investigation, the House of Commons Public Accounts Committee was told.

Dave Hartnett, acting chairman of HMRC, said he was 'disappointed by the quality' of calls to the line aimed at catching income tax cheats.

Not her "Ex" husband? That must be a fun relationship.

He said HMRC investigators used 'data matching' techniques but also scanned the Yellow Pages for new nail bars rather than waiting for local tax inspectors to report them.

Translation: "Nail Bar" is not a place where you go to get, er, nailed. Here we call them manicure salons. I think.