Office of tax simplification mooted by Tories

Date: 7th July 2008

A report has been published by a Conservative party working group in which proposals are made for the establishment of an office of tax simplification (OTS).

The document, entitled Making taxes simpler, has been put together under the leadership of former Tory chancellor Lord Howe and it makes the case for an office to be set up that can oversee the development and potential implementation of changes to taxation laws.

Taxation professionals would join academics in relevant fields and representatives of HM Revenues & Customs in forming an OTS if the proposals are taken forward by this or the next government.

The Chartered Institute of Taxation has welcomed the report and its president Nick Goulding said: "As we have seen recently over capital gains tax and the non-dom changes, it is vital to have detailed consultation in order to avoid unintended consequences."

Earlier this year, the government announced that it would endeavour to ensure that no British businesses were charged twice on the same dividends, which could have happened as a result of recent changes to the corporation tax structure.