Eat Out to Help Out Scheme: Fraud

(asked on 16th July 2020) - View Source

Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the potential for fraudulent claims in relation to the Eat out, help out programme; and if he will make a statement.


Answered by
Jesse Norman Portrait
Jesse Norman
This question was answered on 21st July 2020

The Government expects the vast majority of organisations to do the right thing, but it is recognised that within any scheme there is potential for fraud. HMRC have carried out a risk assessment of the scheme, which includes reviewing the potential for fraudulent claims.

HMRC reserve the right to follow up on claims and take whatever action is necessary if people abuse the Eat Out to Help Out Scheme (EOHOS). In line with the other payment-out regimes they administer, HMRC will undertake pre-payment authentication and risking in order to identify and block fraudulent EOHOS claims, and will carry out proportionate risk-based, post-payment compliance checks.

Fraud and abuse of the scheme can be reported through HMRC’s online tax evasion reporting form, details of which can be found on GOV.UK.

All reports received by HMRC are subject to review and the appropriate and necessary actions are taken in response to the reports.

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