This special summer edition of The Tax Factor sees CEO Nimesh Shah joined by Heather Self to analyse one of the most discussed and often misunderstood issues in UK tax policy: the tax gap. Together, they explore what the tax gap actually measures, why it matters, and what the latest HMRC figures reveal about the health of the UK tax system.

The discussion challenges some common assumptions, including the belief that large multinational businesses are the primary drivers of lost tax revenue. Instead, Nimesh and Heather examine where the tax gap really sits, the role of small businesses, and whether initiatives such as Making Tax Digital, increased compliance activity and whistleblowing measures can help improve tax collection over the long term.

They also look at the political backdrop, with a potential change of Chancellor on the horizon and growing pressure on the public finances. Could tackling the tax gap provide a solution, or is the reality far more complicated?