Thirty-four tax consultations are expected to be launched during the next three months, the Treasury revealed as it published its new Tax Consultation Framework and a summary of responses to the consultation launched last December.
An updated Tax Consultation Tracker is also available on the Treasury website.
The Framework sets out the approach the government will take to consultation for ‘most’ tax policy changes. ‘Informal consultation’ will be ‘as transparent as possible, consistent with the need to protect revenue’.
There were eight responses to the December 2010 consultation – seven from professional bodies and one from PwC. This followed an earlier consultation on the June 2010 discussion paper ‘Tax policy making: a new approach’.
‘Respondents have generally welcomed the framework as a positive step towards achieving the Government's aims of predictability, stability and simplicity for the tax system,’ said David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
‘Many of the suggestions have been incorporated into the finalised framework, while others will be addressed through the guidance and training provided to policy officials.’
The Tax Professionals Forum will monitor ‘the extent to which the commitments in the Framework are met and report to Ministers in their meetings’. Gauke set up the Forum last summer to oversee the government's efforts to reform the framework for developing tax policy and making tax law.
Planned consultations The Treasury has also listed the government’s planned tax consultations in chronological order, including anticipated launch dates where these are known.
Four consultations are expected to be launched in April, 18 in May and 12 in June.
Draft legislation The government has recognised that improving the quality of tax law in the UK requires ‘consultation on policy and scrutiny of legislation’.
The Framework states that in most cases, the government will publish draft tax legislation in the following way:
Draft clauses for the Finance Bill will be published for scrutiny at least three months before the Bill is introduced to Parliament. The period for comments to be made will be at least eight weeks.
Where secondary legislation gives substantive effect to a Finance Bill clause, the secondary legislation will be published in draft alongside that Finance Bill clause.
Other secondary legislation implementing a significant change or imposing significant new obligations and responsibilities will be published (for comment for eight weeks) at least three months before that secondary legislation is laid before Parliament.
Any other secondary legislation will be published in draft for a four week consultation period unless it falls within [certain exceptions, including straightforward changes to rates, allowances and thresholds, and revenue protection or anti-avoidance measures where following the Framework could present a risk to the Exchequer] or otherwise gives rise to no potential technical drafting issues.
Thirty-four tax consultations are expected to be launched during the next three months, the Treasury revealed as it published its new Tax Consultation Framework and a summary of responses to the consultation launched last December.
An updated Tax Consultation Tracker is also available on the Treasury website.
The Framework sets out the approach the government will take to consultation for ‘most’ tax policy changes. ‘Informal consultation’ will be ‘as transparent as possible, consistent with the need to protect revenue’.
There were eight responses to the December 2010 consultation – seven from professional bodies and one from PwC. This followed an earlier consultation on the June 2010 discussion paper ‘Tax policy making: a new approach’.
‘Respondents have generally welcomed the framework as a positive step towards achieving the Government's aims of predictability, stability and simplicity for the tax system,’ said David Gauke, the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury.
‘Many of the suggestions have been incorporated into the finalised framework, while others will be addressed through the guidance and training provided to policy officials.’
The Tax Professionals Forum will monitor ‘the extent to which the commitments in the Framework are met and report to Ministers in their meetings’. Gauke set up the Forum last summer to oversee the government's efforts to reform the framework for developing tax policy and making tax law.
Planned consultations The Treasury has also listed the government’s planned tax consultations in chronological order, including anticipated launch dates where these are known.
Four consultations are expected to be launched in April, 18 in May and 12 in June.
Draft legislation The government has recognised that improving the quality of tax law in the UK requires ‘consultation on policy and scrutiny of legislation’.
The Framework states that in most cases, the government will publish draft tax legislation in the following way:
Draft clauses for the Finance Bill will be published for scrutiny at least three months before the Bill is introduced to Parliament. The period for comments to be made will be at least eight weeks.
Where secondary legislation gives substantive effect to a Finance Bill clause, the secondary legislation will be published in draft alongside that Finance Bill clause.
Other secondary legislation implementing a significant change or imposing significant new obligations and responsibilities will be published (for comment for eight weeks) at least three months before that secondary legislation is laid before Parliament.
Any other secondary legislation will be published in draft for a four week consultation period unless it falls within [certain exceptions, including straightforward changes to rates, allowances and thresholds, and revenue protection or anti-avoidance measures where following the Framework could present a risk to the Exchequer] or otherwise gives rise to no potential technical drafting issues.
