Closure of Office of Tax Simplification confirmed

The Treasury has confirmed that as announced on 23 September the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) will be closed. It will publish its findings from the call for evidence on hybrid and distance working before the end of the calendar year and will not undertake further work.

Given the OTS is a statutory body the formal closure will take effect when the next Finance Bill receives royal assent.

Katharine Arthur head of private client at haysmacintyre said: ‘It is disappointing to see that the Treasury has confirmed the closure of the OTS. As an arm’s length body the OTS has carried out detailed and valuable work since its set up in 2010. Abolishing it now when simplification is more vital than ever seems counterintuitive. The OTS provides an independent interface with businesses taxpayers and their representatives which allows...