Roll back UK's Power To Seize Funds from Your Savings Account

  • by: Susan V
  • recipient: UK Treasury and Her Magisty's Revenue and Customs

UK citizens are loudly protesting government plans to take disputed funds out of personal bank accounts. But this outcry hasn’t yet stopped the plans from going forward.

Basing its justification only on suspicion of tax evasion, the government has given Revenue and Customs power to hold up use of personal funds while investigating whether the department has a case for a legal victory.

But of course the government could be wrong, and it will only give the money back if it can be proved wrong. This practice is what Members of Parliament’s Treasury Committee call “retrospection,” which is in opposition to the committee’s principles and should be considered only under extraordinary circumstances.

However the government claims it is only proposing what France and the US do already.

Of most concern is that people on low incomes could face dire repercussions while awaiting government mistakes to be mended. The Treasury has an obligation to UK citizens not to take their money based solely on suspicion. Don't let the UK mess with citizens' savings/bank accounts.

We, the undersigned, say the Treasury’s plans to take control of disputed personal funds is a violation of citizens’ rights and could cause serious negative repercussions.


Opponents are not only concerned about the harm to vulnerable populations but Treasury Committee chair Andrew Tyrie also points out that "Retrospection puts policy on a slippery path to arbitrary taxation, discouraging investment and innovation and creating the scope for great unfairness."


Even though public outcry has resulted in amendments to the original plan, the changes are still not enough to ensure that the vulnerable and innocent will be protected from government mistakes.


The proposed action is equivalent to determining someone guilty until proven innocent.


We request that the UK Treasury roll back its plans to control disputed personal funds.


Thanks for your time.

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