§ Mr. McFallTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer which companies are known(a) to be selling or to have sold versions of the card handling scheme used to reduce 676W VAT bills and (b) to be using or to have used the scheme; and how much revenue is involved in each case. [161860]
§ John HealeyHM Customs and Excise is debarred by statute from disclosing information about the individual affairs of taxpayers. Exemption 15 (Statutory and other restrictions) of the Open Government Code applies. However, Customs are aware of around 78 taxpayers using the card handling scheme, involving around £301 million of VAT revenue. Customs are vigorously tackling these schemes through the courts and have successfully contested a test case in the VAT and Duties Tribunal.