Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask His Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to adding (1) a company number field to the Gov.uk VAT checker service, and (2) a VAT number field to the Companies House online register, with the aim of reducing corporate fraud and VAT evasion.

Answered by Lord Livermore - Financial Secretary (HM Treasury)

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and Companies House (CH) are committed to preventing fraud and tax evasion by identifying and holding accountable corporate entities that attempt to evade their responsibilities and tax liabilities. The departments have strong relations, further strengthened by the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act (2023) and have developed a collective programme of activities to facilitate closer cooperation on company registrations and de-registrations, accounting and filing, and sharing risk intelligence and data.

There are no plans to add a Company Number field to the UK VAT Registration checker service, or a VAT Registration Number field to the Companies House online register. However, HMRC and CH will continue to work together to develop and implement further improvements to the way that businesses register as a company and register for corporation tax and VAT to reduce tax evasion and corporate fraud.

Found: the meeting Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Borwick; Lord Drayson; Lord Lucas

Found: the meeting Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Berkeley; Lord Borwick; Lord Drayson; Lord Lucas

Found: Lord Lucas No relevant interests.

Found: 11.30 am Watch the meeting Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Borwick; Lord Drayson; Lord Lucas

Found: 10.15 am Watch the meetingv Members present: Lord Mair (The Chair); Lord Borwick; Lord Drayson; Lord Lucas

Found: LORD LUCAS 140_ After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause— “Notice periods When— (a) an employee

Found: LORD LUCAS 43_ Clause 4, page 6, line 30, at end insert “, and in that context consideration must be

Found: LORD LUCAS 107A_ Schedule 3, page 191, line 2, after “means” insert “a period of nine months or” Member's

Found: LORD LUCAS 43_ Clause 4, page 6, line 30, at end insert “, and in that context consideration must be

Found: LORD LUCAS 113A_ Clause 26, page 45, line 25, after “employment” insert “by any substantial means,

Found: LORD LUCAS 78_ Clause 6, page 11, line 9, at end insert “, and publish what steps it has taken.”

Found: LORD LUCAS _ Clause 4, page 8, line 7, at end insert— “(c) it has complied with specified measures

Found: LORD LUCAS 113A_ Clause 26, page 45, line 25, after “employment” insert “by any substantial means,

Found: LORD LUCAS _ Clause 6, page 11, line 9, at end insert “, and publish what steps it has taken.”

Found: Clause 4 LORD LUCAS _ Clause 4, page 6, leave out lines 16 to 17 Member's explanatory statement This

Found: LORD LUCAS _ Clause 31, page 59, line 17, leave out “15” and insert “30” LORD LUCAS _ Clause 31, page

Found: LORD LUCAS _ Clause 31, page 59, line 22, at beginning insert “intentionally” LORD LUCAS _ Clause

Found: Clause 26 LORD LUCAS 113A_ Clause 26, page 45, line 25, after “employment” insert “by any substantial

Found: LORD LUCAS ★_ Clause 31, page 59, line 17, leave out “15” and insert “30” LORD LUCAS ★_ Clause 31,

Found: Clause 2 LORD LUCAS 21A★_ Clause 2, page 19, line 11, after “notice”, insert “of no more than 24 hours

Found: LORD LUCAS 140★_ After Clause 26, insert the following new Clause— “Notice periods When— Employment

Found: 4th March 2019 in the Lords Offensive Weapons Bill debate and the rational is still valid:- Lord Lucas