There have been calls to end tax avoidance after a survey of over a thousand UK adults found that most believe it to be morally wrong.

In the survey, by Church Action for Tax Justice (CATJ), 80% said tax avoidance was morally wrong, with three quarters of these respondents agreeing that everyone should "pay our fair share". 

This surpassed the 72% who agreed taking illegal drugs was morally wrong. 

There was also strong support for this view regardless of political affiliation, with 84% of Conservative voters and 82% of Labour voters believing tax avoidance to be morally reprehensible. 

To coincide with Tax Justice Sunday today, CATJ has issued a 'Coronavirus Statement' calling on the Government to ensure that everyone pays a "fair share for a fairer world". 

As the country emerges from lockdown and companies start to resume business again, the group is calling for greater tax transparency and the imposition of conditions on corporate bailouts, including one that ensures Government handouts only go to corporations that have paid their fair share of tax.

Other calls in the statement are for the introduction of an excess profits tax, greater tax support for poorer countries, an annual net wealth tax and more resources for HMRC and Companies House to clamp down on tax dodgers. 

Commenting on the findings, the Bishop of Leeds, Rt Rev Nick Baines said: "The current crisis is exposing the lack of fairness and equity in our economic system. There is also a clear perception that, as we move into an uncertain future, we need an equitable tax system.

"We need to stop the tax dodging and we need to see a greater degree of tax justice in our country. I wholeheartedly commend this statement from Church Action for Tax Justice."

David Haslam, Chair of Church Action for Tax Justice said: "Our survey findings make clear that tax is the moral issue of our time. Now people have become aware of how much the wealthy cheat on their taxes they need to see justice done."