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Fraud, error and debt management

To pay the right amount, to the right person, at the right time, government needs effective processes. Where these fail, fraud, error and outstanding debts to government all increase. In addition, new ways of delivering services bring new processes and controls, and create new risks and new opportunities. For example, more data sharing between government bodies can reduce fraud and error, but can also enhance the risk of cyber crime and accidental loss of confidential customer information.

Fraud and error affects many departments and almost all government bodies have debt owed to them, such as overdue tax liabilities and outstanding fines. Government could save £10 billion every year through better management of fraud, error and debt – especially by DWP and HMRC, which deal with the largest payments to and from the public.

Key NAO publications

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Autumn 2021

The management of debt owed to HMRC

In 2019-20 HM Revenue and Customs collected £636.7 billion in total tax revenues. The amount of tax overdue for payment at 31 March 2020 was £22.4 billion. On 20 March 2020, the government announced measures that deferred future payments of some taxes, in recognition of the financial pressures put on taxpayers as a result of … Read more

Posted 19 April 2021 in:

Performance Improvement area(s): ,

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NAO Press Office
+44 (0)20 7798 7400 or email pressoffice@nao.org.uk

Good practice guidance: Fraud and Error

This guide uses the NAO’s insights to show what can be done to counter the risk of fraud and error.

Sector(s): ,

Performance Improvement area(s): ,

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Published:
2 Mar 2021