The taxman can claim money directly from the accounts of debtors who owe more than £1,000 under “direct recovery powers”, which were first introduced in 2015 but paused during the pandemic. “Clearly taxpayers should pay the tax that is properly due, but I do not have the confidence that HMRC will always get it right. Savings accounts are also set for more scrutiny. The requirements, which will be introduced in legislation next year, will see more workers pay savings tax directly from their pay packets without submitting a self-assessment. Ministers are also pushing ahead with plans to recover money directly from the accounts of benefit claimants.