‘Politicians can't be trusted to clean up HSBC’: Govt revenue chiefs grilled over tax evasion scandal

Top UK tax officials were probed by MPs on Wednesday over the recent tax evasion scandal that has engulfed British banking giant HSBC. Labour MP Austin Mitchel said Britain’s tax avoidance industry has eclipsed its tax collection industry.

Amid global controversy over HSBC's alleged involvement in industrial scale tax evasion, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was questioned by Britain’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

On Sunday, it emerged HSBC's Swiss private banking arm had aided royalty, criminals, terrorists, and drug dealers in dodging taxes.

A colossal cache of files leaked to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) shed light on the banking giant's clandestine practices between 2005 and 2007. During this period, HSBC's Swiss private banking arm controlled roughly $100 billion in assets.

Files disclosing the bank’s suspect actions were leaked to HMRC in 2010.

The PAC challenged HRMC on Wednesday why it failed to take significant action against former clients of HSBC’s Swiss operation, who were referenced in the leaked documents.

It emerged during the hearing, 150 files seen by the tax authority had uncovered grounds for possible criminal prosecutions.

But HRMC's director general for enforcement and compliance, Jennie Grainger, confirmed the body had only disclosed three cases to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). Criminal proceedings were launched in one of these cases, she revealed.

PAC vs HMRC: we now know - 150 HSBC files were possible prosecutions, 3 sent to CPS, 1 case taken, HMRC now involving other agencies

— Kamal Ahmed (@bbckamal) February 11, 2015

Grainger argued it’s extremely difficult to prosecute individuals for offshore tax evasion. She said in the case of stolen or leaked data, guilt could only be proven using supplementary evidence.

Probed on whether ministers were informed in 2010 of the leaked cache of files, Homer said she was unsure of what happened. She later conceded concerns regarding HSBC’s practices in Geneva were raised with ministers at the time.

Commenting on the HSBC scandal, Joel Benjamin of ethical finance think tank Move Your Money said HSBC had yet again breached international law.

He expressed little faith in UK tax and regulatory authorities' capacity to adequately deal with allegations levelled at the scandal-ridden bank.

Lin Homer avoids the question of whether or not HSBC helped tax evasion. Isn't it time for her to tell the truth? #PAC

— Richard Murphy (@RichardJMurphy) February 11, 2015

'Complicity in tax evasion'

Addressing HRMC chief Lin Homer, Conservative MP Chris Heaton-Harris suggested it’s inconceivable the tax authority failed to approach the Chancellor regarding the leaked HSBC files.

Homer said it is widely known covert Swiss bank accounts are used to hide money internationally. But she stressed proving complicity in tax evasion was another matter. The HRMC chief added solid evidence of wrongdoing is a vital prerequisite to criminal proceedings.

PAC chair Margaret Hodge asked Homer whether HSBC’s 170 accounts in Jersey was evidence of endemic HSBC tax avoidance and evasion.

Homer failed to answer the question directly, but said in cases where HRMC uncovers financial irregularities at a bank, it passes the information on to the relevant authorities.

The revolving door of #HSBC and the tax office. Cameron signed off taxman to work for tax avoidance bank http://t.co/F8jFEUTleC

— Saggydaddy (@Saggydaddy) February 10, 2015

Following Wednesday's hearing, the accounts committee is set to decide whether to call one of Homer’s influential predecessors, Dave Harnett, to give evidence.

Harnett was HMRC’s chief executive when it dealt with leaked evidence implicating HSBC in tax evasion activities. He worked at the tax authority between 1976 and 2012.

Harnett told MPs in 2011 it was widely known HRMC had in its possession a disc from the “Geneva branch of a major UK bank – with 6,000 names, all ripe for investigation.”

Following his departure from the government tax authority, he was hired by HSBC to head its newly formed in-house financial crime committee. As part of the role, he was responsible for reporting to the bank's board.

Harnett goes HMRC to HSBC. Green goes HSBC to Govt. Only 1 HSBC tax evader is prosecuted in UK? All seems very cosy at the top, doesn't it?

— Andrew Sharpe (@TMT_Lawyer) February 11, 2015

HSBC founded the financial crime committee after it was forced to pay American authorities £1.2 billion in the wake of allegations it helped Mexican drug cartels launder dirty money.

Move Your Money's Joel Benjamin said Harnett’s transition from government tax chief to head of HSBC’s financial crime committee was a damning indictment of a revolving door culture that blackens British banking.

“The move highlights the rotten core of the UK’s financial services sector, and the all too cozy links between the government, the big four banks and accountancy firms,” he told RT.

As controversy over HSBC’s role in facilitating tax evasion gathers momentum, the bank’s former chairman and chief executive, Lord Green of Hurstpierpoint, has come under increasing pressure to disclose what he knows. He has so far remained silent on the issue.

The Public Accounts Committee is expected to hear evidence from Green in the near future.

The Treasury’s Financial Secretary, David Gauke, claimed on Monday that no evidence indicating Green was “involved or complicit with tax evasion activities” has materialised.

But the Labour party is calling on Prime Minister David Cameron to make an official statement on the ex-HSBC chairman’s role at the bank, and his subsequent appointment as a minister in 2011.

Stephen Green earned £3m a year as the boss at #HSBC, then was appointed a minister in the House of Lords. pic.twitter.com/eJcfVRMKX7

— BBCPanorama (@BBCPanorama) February 9, 2015

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said the government appears confused over the leaked HSBC documents.

Downing Street recently claimed no records exist of a government minister being informed HSBC had facilitated wrong doing. But the Treasury later conceded the government became aware of allegations against HSBC in May 2010.

Benjamin says he is doubtful the PAC's inquiries will breed tangible reform.

“Our politicians can't be trusted to clean up HSBC, when tainted individuals like Lord Green are personally invited by David Cameron into the heart of the UK government,” he told RT.

“Rather than platitudes from MPs about getting tough on tax avoidance, it's high time something was done about it.”

HSBC has conceded it was “accountable for past control failures.” It claims it has now “fundamentally changed,” and is “cooperating with relevant authorities.”