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Regarding the COVID-19 support schemes, we asked HMRC whether it had estimated the level of...

Conclusion
Regarding the COVID-19 support schemes, we asked HMRC whether it had estimated the level of fraud and error in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme considering the scheme had ended at the end of August. HMRC confirmed to us that it did not yet have an estimate of the level of fraud and error.75 It explained to us that, while it had made three arrests so far for fraud, its compliance work had been affected by the fact that restaurants had to go back into a lockdown. It has identified high-risk cases, for investigation, where the amounts of the received claims have not been in proportion to the information the Department holds on the businesses.76 In the case of the CJRS measure, HMRC has made a planning assumption for its compliance work that there could be 5% to 10% of fraud and error. It has yet to determine the actual level of fraud and error.77 73 Qq 97, 99; HM Revenue & Customs Annual Report and Accounts 2019–20, The Resource Accounts: Certificate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General to the House of Commons, HC 891, 5 November 2020 74 Qq 92–93 75 Qq 31, 33 76 Qq 28, 34 77 Q 43; C&AG’s Report, Implementing employment support schemes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Session 2019–2021, HC 862, 23 October 2020, paragraph 19 HMRC performance 2019–20 19
Government Response

A response document is linked to this report, dated 26 March 2021. Response attribution to this conclusion has not been verified. Read the response document.

Addressee Bodies
HM Treasury
Timeline
Recommendation age 5.6 yrs
Report published 20 Jan 2021