CIOT first off the blocks with budget representations. By Nichola Ross Martin
The Charted Institute of Taxation (CIOT) is the first of the tax bodies out of the starting blocks with their budget 2007 representations, and they are not mincing their words.
2006 has been a year in which HMRC, with the recklessness of a teenaged joy rider, has chosen to crash and burn its remaining goodwill and with it understanding and close working relationships with the main tax bodies.
Continued...
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Friction!
As the government is the biggest single employer in the country their rise to power is not unrelated to its ambitions for expanding and improving the country’s infrastructure and welfare systems. If one was a benefactor of either of these then one invariably voted for the government.
Unfortunately, the governments lack of scruples, and a realisation that general taxation is near or at its ceiling, has enabled the First Lord of the Treasury and his Chancellor to overwhelm Parliament with a barrage of taxation law that grinds harshly upon the nation.
Politicians should have the manoeuvrability to raise direct taxation without resorting to such a harsh regime. Our Chancellor should depart with a K.I.S.S.
There is one overriding matter
concerning HMRC, taxpayer relationships and the collection and administration of tax which needs to be changed and is so fundamental to the UK tax system that it supersedes all other matters in importance.
CIOT has not mentioned this, instead producing a litany of technical items that require to be addressed. Wood and trees comes to mind. We should all put best efforts into persuading HMRC and Government of the need for change.
What is this matter?
Describing taxpayers as customers.