“Credit reference agencies will cross-check details of the income people declare on their tax returns against their spending patterns to identify ‘high’ and ‘medium’ risks of both illegal and legal tax avoidance. About two million people are expected to be scrutinised under the programme, which may lead to privacy concerns. Treasury sources said that ‘hundreds of millions’ are expected to be raised from the greater use of third-party data, such as that supplied by credit reference agencies. Information will also be routinely shared between the British and American authorities.”
