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Speaking at a Budget prediction briefing held in the City last week, George Bull, head of tax for Baker Tilly, said Alistair Darling, chancellor, was under enormous pressure to raise more revenue without having the room to make further tax cuts to stimulate the economy.

He said the troubles in the UK economy had meant there would be very little scope for surprises in this year's Budget, which will take place on 22 April.

Instead, he said the focus was likely to be on using the existing legislation to enforce the current tax regime and combat particular areas prone to tax aversion.

Mr Bull said: "What is going on with vigour is the creation of much tougher rules, much tougher enforcement, a new penalty regime and new powers and I think we will see all of those used to enforce the existing taxes with much greater effect."

He said there would be more emphasis placed on attacking tax havens such as Jersey and Guernsey, with many more countries committed to adopting standards of transparency.

The government would also look at changing the rules on foreign profits taxation such as restricting the tax relief for borrowing, taxation of foreign dividends and taxation of controlled foreign companies, he said.

Mr Bull said: "The government cannot really afford to lose any further revenue and it is doubtful there would be scope for tax reductions on a scale that would have any appreciable effect in getting the economy moving."

Mr Bull said it was unlikely the government would push back the rate of VAT from 15 per cent to 17.5 per cent until 2010.

This would be to avoid businesses, and in particular retailers, having to make systems changes in the run up to the vital Christmas and new year period, he said.

Julie Hutchinson, head of estate planning of Standard Life, said: "There will be a focus on the international aspects of tax evasion because part of the current economic climate has been focused on the international movement of money, which has attracted some negative headlines.

"It will give the government extra confidence to look at international tax havens but it will depend on how far they decide to go with that."

Ms Hutchinson said the government may also look to further tighten the inheritance tax rules as a means to gathering more revenue.

She said: "The amount of inheritance tax the government raised has fallen in the years since the introduction of the transferable nil-rate band rules. It would be unfortunate if the government sought to further tighten the inheritance tax rules."