From: betterRetailing.com
By Chloe Taylor
Illicit cigarette consumption reached a five year high in 2016, causing a £600m jump in lost duty.
HMRC’s 2016 tax gap report estimated that £2.4bn of duty was lost in 2015-16 to the illicit tobacco trade – up from £1.8bn the previous year.
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“Consumption of illegal cigarettes is at a level not seen since 2010-11, with 5 billion sticks consumed in 2015-16,” he said. “The amount of illegal and counterfeit tobacco that is now easily available on our streets is truly appalling. This is a massive problem and needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency.”
