Taxman amnesty, or crackdown in disguise?

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HM Revenue and Customs has announced what it is calling a 'partial amnesty' for taxpayers who owe money from years stretching back beyond 2010. Anyone who earned money before 2010 that they haven't declared or paid tax on will have three months to do so, during which time they will receive massively reduced fines and penalties.

So is the taxman finally becoming approachable and understanding?