16 Jul 2025

HMRC Opens Competition to Tackle Deliberate Evasion and Help Close the Tax Gap

HMRC is looking for solutions to closing the tax gap within a customer group on the theme of tackling evasion behaviour.

Closing the tax gap is a key strategic priority for HMRC. The department is running a competitive procurement to invite novel and innovative solutions to closing the tax gap within a customer group on the theme of tackling evasion behaviour.

Project Background

In the 2023 to 2024 tax year, the tax gap is estimated to be 5.3% of total theoretical tax liabilities, or £46.8 billion in absolute terms. This is driven by a range of customer behaviours from simple error to deliberate evasion. Identifying deliberate evasion is inherently difficult across a very large population of customers. By its nature the intent of deliberate evasion is to hide and deceive. This can lead to sub-optimal targeting of investigations by HMRC which impacts HMRC’s ability to close the tax gap and increases the burden on compliant customers. Being able to identify deliberate evasion accurately at population level will improve HMRC’s approach to managing the tax gap and reduce the impact on compliant customers.

This competitive procurement will invite novel and innovative solutions to closing the tax gap within a customer group on the theme of tackling evasion behaviour.

Potential solutions may include (but are not limited to) analytical techniques and data that can help identify indicators of potential evasion in HMRC’s risking processes. However, this is an open competition, and HMRC would like to explore a range of innovative solutions that can contribute to the primary objective of closing the tax gap.

Total value (estimated)

  • £5,000,000 excluding VAT
  • £6,000,000 including VAT

Contract dates (estimated)

  • 12 February 2027 to 11 February 2028
  • Possible extension to 11 February 2031
  • 4 years

Please login below to find out more

Login or register to access this content

This paper is available to everyone. Log in or sign up for free to read the full paper.

Login or register here

 


Central Government Programme activities

The techUK Central Government Programme provides a forum for government to engage with tech suppliers. We advocate for the govtech sector, evangelise tech as a solution to public sector challenges, facilitate market engagement, and help make the public sector an easier market to operate in. Visit the programme page here.

 

Upcoming events

Latest news and insights 

Learn more and get involved

 

Central Government updates

Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities from our Central Government programme.

 


 

 

 

 

Here are the five reasons to join the Central Government Programme

Download

Join techUK groups

techUK members can get involved in our work by joining our groups, and stay up to date with the latest meetings and opportunities in the programme.

Learn more

Become a techUK member

Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.

Learn more

Meet the team 

Heather Cover-Kus

Heather Cover-Kus

Head of Central Government Programme, techUK

Ellie Huckle

Ellie Huckle

Programme Manager, Central Government, techUK

Charles Bauman

Charles Bauman

Junior Programme Manager - Central Government, techUK

Francesca Richiusa

Francesca Richiusa

Programme Team Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK