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The Chancellor should have taken the opportunity to be bolder regarding reforms to the taxing of the non-domiciled, say commentators.
As expected, Alistair Darling introduced a £30,000 fee for non-domiciled families at the seven-year mark.
The head of tax at PwC, Richard Collier-Keywood, welcomed Mr Darling's first Budget 'because it contained few major surprises' for UK business.
However, he went on to express disappointment that the 'Chancellor is, unfortunately, still introducing new provisions to tax non-domiciliaries'.
'We are pleased to note', said Mr Collier-Keywood, 'that he has amended the proposals to relieve some of the worst effects of the detail of the new rules.
'These changes, however, will still have major long-term effects on the UK economy.'
TUC general secretary Brendan Barber remarked that 'the Government deserves praise for its continuing stewardship of the economy'.
But he added that the Treasury needed to display 'much more bravery in making the super-rich pay their fair share of tax'.
Mr Barber said: 'While the Chancellor has stuck to his non-dom guns, he was wrong to rule out further changes when the threatened talent exodus fails to materialise.
'The richest non-doms will hardly be troubled by this £30,000 poll tax.'
Tax director Louise Somerset of RBC Wealth Management her company was 'disappointed that so few of the proposals have been changed or delayed. We estimate that 75% non-dom clients are considering their options with a view to leaving the UK.
'Although some of the worst and most retrospective plans have been reversed, we do not think that this will prove to be enough to undo the damage that has already been caused.'
She continued: 'The overall message that we have picked up from our non-dom clients is one of loss of confidence in the Government in view of the chaotic way in which the "reforms" have been introduced.
'They see these as the thin edge of the wedge, and are particularly concerned that it would be easy for the rules to be changed again.
It is helpful that the Chancellor has committed Labour not to make any changes to the domicile rules in the current or the next Parliament, but we are concerned that this will prove to be too little, too late.'
The director-general of the CBI, Richard Lambert, said: 'The Chancellor has made some worthwhile changes to core aspects of the non-doms proposals, notably leaving alone gains and income from assets in trusts kept offshore, and pledging to avoid double taxation issues.
'All this will soften the impact.
'However damage has been done to the UK's reputation for tax stability and as a country which actively wants to attract talent and capital.
'When the legislation is finalised over the coming weeks it must be crystal clear, especially in relation to double taxation, in order to rebuild confidence in the system.
'This is particularly important if the welcome assurance that the regime will not be changed for several years is to have its desired effect of delivering certainty.
'Then it will be a case of waiting and seeing what the fall-out of the whole process and final proposals will be.'
