HMRC opened 1,091 serious tax investigations in the last year, law firm Pinsent Masons has uncovered. 

These probes – known as ‘COP8’ and ‘COP9’ investigations – provide an opportunity for taxpayers to avoid the heaviest penalties, including prison sentences, if they cooperate fully with HMRC.

A total of 417 investigations into the most serious suspected cases of tax evasion under ‘COP9’ were carried out ...