By JAMES SLACK Personal data gathered for the controversial ID cards scheme will be made available to the taxman. HM Revenue and Customs officials will be able to trawl through a person's financial transactions for hints of any undeclared earnings or bank accounts. The revelation last night renewed fury about the £5.5billion ID cards project. Jacqui Smith with a controversial ID card, which would give authorities access to a log of large transactions There was already widespread concern that the Home Office, police and security officials would have access to the scheme's database. But campaigners said handing information to tax inspectors was a sinister development. The powers that give 'Commissioners for Revenue and Customs' access to the ID cards audit log were buried away in orders laid before Parliament earlier this week - at the same time as the full extent of the expenses scandal was emerging. The log records each time a card has been used to verify a person's identity when they make a big value purchase, open a bank account or take out a mortgage. If a large number of verifications for big items are recorded, it could signal to the taxman a person earns more money than they declared. Undeclared second homes could also lead to higher tax payments. The audit trail will also include checks made by employers that a person applying for a job is here legally. This could also make the taxman aware of any undeclared second occupations. Phil Booth, of the NO2ID campaign, said: 'It would be hypocrisy of the highest order for politicians so reluctant to come clean on their own personal finances to pass legislation that would let the taxman snoop through all of ours. 'The big lie of the ID scheme is that it's for our benefit - the detail shows it's all about giving the bureaucrats and bean-counters more control.' The Home Office says the ID card scheme will make life easier for both businesses and their customers. Companies will be charged around 60p a time to check details held on the giant 'big brother' database. Every time a check is made against the ID card, it will be logged on the National Identity Register - and the details made available to the taxman. Officials hope for up to 770million 'verifications' each year. The data includes addresses, any second homes and National Insurance numbers. Firms will be told that using the scheme will cut millions from their annual fraud bills and save them hefty fines for employing illegal immigrants. Officials believe it will be cheaper for companies to confirm identity through the database than by using current methods such as bills and driving licences. The Home Office said businesses would need a person's consent to check information about them. Official documents reveal that some 44,000 organisations could be 'accredited' to carry out verification checks. They range from Whitehall departments, banks and financial institutions to mobile phone and video rental shops. It comes after Jacqui Smith's announcement earlier this month that members of the public will be expected to have their fingerprints taken at the Post Office or in high street shops and pharmacies when they sign up for a card or passport. At present, the right to take fingerprints is largely restricted to the police.Taxman can use database of ID cards to track our spending habits and bank accounts
Last updated at 11:38 PM on 15th May 2009
Saturday, 16 May 2009
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