Does the UK Border Agency talk to HMRC?

[Ayahuasca]

A friend of mine is a non-UK resident for tax purposes. He is allowed to spend X days in the UK each year (according to a complicated formula) without becoming liable for UK tax. If he goes a day over X then his worldwide income is subject to UK tax, which he would find a bit irritating.

His question is, how would HMRC find out how may days he spends in the UK? Clearly in/out dates are logged by the electronic scanner at the airport, but is that data shared with HMRC?

His other friend has told him that some people in a similar situation, rather than fly to a UK airport, fly to Dublin, then nip over the (so far anyway) non-existent border to NI where the passport is not checked, then hop across to GB. Any thoughts on whether that works?

[Eric Mc]

Yes.

[rdjohn]

Eric Mc said:

Yes.

To which question,

Do They share data?, or does it work to arrive via Ireland?

[Eric Mc]

rdjohn said:

To which question,

Do They share data?, or does it work to arrive via Ireland?

The first one.

Ireland is an issue and will continue to be post Brexit as long as the border is open and there are no checks at ferry ports between NI and GB..

[red_slr]

Also don't assume just because they don't check ID they don't know you are going over.

[Nick928]

From my experience, different parts of HMRC don’t talk together never mind HMRC and the Border Agency.

[kowalski655]

And he would have to pay everything in cash too,as if HMRC DO check,then a card payment at Tesco will be hard to explain if he says he was abroad. Likewise a cash withdrawal from an ATM!