8legs: John-paul marks

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HMRC accused of being ‘cavalier’ with finances of child benefit claimants

UK tax authority HMRC is under pressure after a data-driven crackdown wrongly stopped child benefits for thousands.
Officials say the decision to use Home Office travel data without cross-checking caused the costly error.
Nearly 24,000 people were flagged as emigrants, but many were simply traveling or on work trips.
HMRC says it has strengthened processes and safeguards and is giving affected parents more time to prove they are in the UK.
The incident prompted ongoing Treasury Committee questions about HMRC’s methods and data practices.
The Guardian and The Detail’s investigation had previously shown many affected families had valid UK ties.
The cases included a Ukrainian national and others with caregiving duties in the UK.
HMRC chief executive John-Paul Marks acknowledged the impact on customers and promised reforms.
The crackdown was intended to curb fraud but produced unintended financial strain on families.
The government aims to improve cross-checks between data sources to prevent future errors.

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