The TLRC today publishes a discussion paper considering tax policy making in the UK.

Five years have passed since the reorganisation of UK tax policy making. Since the O'Donnell reforms of 2004 lead responsibility and accountability have rested with HM Treasury and HMRC have been responsible for policy maintenance. The TLRC paper considers that this organisation of tax policy making has not worked as well as it should to produce clear and effective tax policies. The TLRC paper argues that if the new Government is to take steps aimed at improving the system of making UK tax law and simplifying the UK tax system, it should also address the organisation and functioning of tax policy making.

The paper considers how this might be done, either improving the operation of tax policy making within HM Treasury and HMRC, or by using a separate body for this purpose. If an Office of Tax Simplification ("OTS") is to be set up it may be appropriate to look at how the OTS could contribute to policy making. If the OTS were to have a role in dealing with perceived problems in the current tax policy making process, however, it would need to be more than an advisory body.

The discussion paper is published in order to encourage debate on these issues and to inform the TLRC's further work in this area.

Download full version (PDF 261 KB)