OTS seeks views on interim reliefs report

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published its first report in its review of the UK tax system’s 1,042 reliefs and is inviting opinions on the document’s approach.

The interim paper analyses 13 reliefs and measures them against the OTS’s review criteria, evaluating their effectiveness and relevance. Provisional recommendations – which include the simplification of R&D relief, and the removal of the daily income tax break for the first 15p of luncheon vouchers – have been made as to whether a relief should either be retained in its current state, simplified to ease administrative burdens, or be abolished.

The progress document – a precursor of a final report to the Chancellor, due in the spring – has been released with the aim of ensuring that the office’s methods results in sensible proposals.

‘We are keen to hear views on how we have analysed the 13 reliefs… especially thoughts on whether if we are approaching this in a way people support, focusing on reliefs that are no longer used, or are too complex and burdensome to be properly effective,’ said John Whiting, OTS tax director.

‘We welcome feedback from those who use the tax system, and we ask for their thoughts and ideas on how we can simplify it further.’

To enable the OTS to report on a meaningful number of reliefs, 74 have been identified for the next stage of the body’s work, with a further 75 to follow.

Issue: 4286 / Categories: News , John Whiting , Office of Tax Simplification , OTS , tax reliefs