HMRC urge underpaid workers to complain

The Chartered Institute of Payroll Professionals (CIPP) said recent figures found HMRC has more than doubled the number of underpaid workers receiving the money they’re owed under the National Minimum Wage.

Between 2017 and 2018, £15.6m was identified as pay owed to more than 200,000 low-paid workers, up from £10.9m to more than 98,000 workers the year before.

CIPP said that HMRC has partially attributed this rise to the launch of its online complaints service that was rolled out in January 2017. The service has contributed to the 132 percent increase in complaints received by HMRC, which in turn, has helped it to recoup money for those who had been unfairly paid.

Penny Ciniewicz, director general of customer compliance at HMRC, said: “HMRC is committed to getting money back into the pockets of underpaid workers, and these figures demonstrate that we will not hesitate to take action against employers who ignore the law.

“We urge anyone who is concerned they are not being paid the correct rates to contact us in confidence through the Acas helpline or through our online complaints form.”

The figures come ahead of HMRC’s latest advertising campaign to encourage workers to take action by completing its online form.