IDS Goes After Benefit Fraudsters, But What About These 3 Bigger Costs To The Taxpayer?

Iain Duncan Smith's DWP has launched a new advertising campaign encouraging people to phone a hotline if they suspect somebody they know is fraudulently claiming benefits. The government estimates that £1.1 billion is lost a year due to benefit fraud. However, there are three other issues that, from the government's own figures, are bigger problems;

·         The tax gap, charting the estimated amount of taxes unpaid thanks to evasion, avoidance, error and criminality, soared to £34 billion

·         £1.4 billion in benefit overpayments, an increase of nearly 6%

·         Unclaimed tax credits, with childless families missing out on £2.3 billion worth.

Read more on the Huffington Post website.