HMRC official visits Sofia to share experience in tackling fiscal crime
The visit contributes to the British Embassy Magna Carta campaign that promotes the Rule of Law as the foundation of just societies.
Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs
Today, 24 March 2015, Andrew Pavlinic, Director of Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) International Intelligence Command, is in Sofa to meet his Bulgarian colleagues at the Customs Agency, Ministry of Interior and the National Revenue Agency. They will share experience and discuss cooperation in tackling fiscal crime. The visit is coordinated by the British Embassy in Sofia which employs two full time HMRC officers with responsibilities across the Balkan region.
In the UK HMRC’s role is to ensure maximum compliance at the least possible cost. To detect unpaid tax and to ensure every citizen contributes to public services in the UK. HMRC has strong powers and does not hesitate to use the full criminal sanction where individuals deliberately set out to avoid their tax liabilities or are involved in organised criminal attacks against the UK tax system. HMRC currently collects approximately £476 billion.
Sarah Riley, Chargé d’Affaires, has commented:
I am very glad Andrew Pavlinic could come to Sofia to share experiences with his Bulgarian colleagues. The government of Bulgaria is committed to fighting fiscal crime and we look to support their efforts where we can. Today’s visit is part of an ongoing cooperation to improve our response to organised criminal networks across the EU which threaten our respective tax systems.
This year the British Embassy in Sofia is celebrating 800 years of the Magna Carta – the milestone event in British history signifying the beginning of a law-based society. Mr Pavlinic’s visit contributes to the Embassy’s Magna Carta campaign, which promotes the Rule of Law as the foundation of just societies.