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In May 2020, the Taxation Awards judging panel presented Robin Williamson with the lifetime achievement award. All were delighted to honour him for his enormous knowledge of tax and his passionate commitment to serving the wider public’s interests. Indeed, Taxation has been privileged to publish many articles by Robin, several of which reflected this.
Robin started his career in law, moving into tax where he developed his skill at helping people who could not afford to pay for advice. So it is not surprising that he played a key part in establishing the charity Tax Help for Older People in 2001 and spent 15 years as technical director of the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG). Indeed, in 2015 Robin was awarded the MBE in recognition of his work for low income taxpayers.
As Stephen Banyard, chair of the TaxAid Trustees, said: ‘Robin played a huge part in building the tax world’s support for vulnerable people. He fought to tackle the injustices they can suffer in the tax system and worked throughout his life to make the tax system cater better for vulnerable and unrepresented people. He was involved in TaxAid in its early days, he played a seminal role in establishing Tax Help for Older People and for many years he led and developed the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group – which became the voice of the unrepresented.
‘Robin will be hugely missed but his legacy lives on, in the reforms he helped pass and the ongoing work of the LITRG team, which he did so much to develop and encourage.’
Former CIOT president and founding chairman of LITRG John Andrews said: ‘As president of the CIOT, I had a key objective “to support the lower paid”. The research that we did demonstrated a pressing need for some formal structure within the CIOT to further this aim and so was born LITRG. One of the key advocates for this initiative was Robin and he became one of its first volunteers. He was instrumental in assessing the needs of the pensioner population, through which LITRG later created Tax Help for Older People.
‘Having joined LITRG part-time, he progressed to be its technical director. For many years we worked hand in glove. He was dependable, thorough, technically excellent and passionate about our mission. But more than that he had a gentle humour, he was kind and selfless, despite having to deal with ongoing health problems, which he did with his typical stoicism.
‘The tax world has lost, far too soon, one of its nicest people.’
Current head of LITRG Victoria Todd said: ‘I know that LITRG held a special place in Robin’s heart, not only because he was utterly dedicated to the cause, but also because it was where he met his wife Jane in 1999. Robin and Jane celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in July this year.’
Referring to Robin’s remarkable achievements in his career, Victoria said: ‘What I will remember most though is his kindness and unwavering support. Robin took great pride in the team he built at LITRG. He once said that the foundations of his own career in tax were laid by one of his law lecturers. To me, Robin was that law lecturer who encouraged me to move from welfare rights to tax and sit my ATT exams. I will forever be grateful for the impact Robin has had on my career.’
CIOT president Susan Ball said: ‘Robin was a hugely effective communicator and campaigner for taxpayers on low incomes: standing up for “digitally excluded” taxpayers, fighting for safeguards to protect those in tax debt, achieving reforms which have benefited disabled people and carers. These are just three of the many areas in which Robin made an impact for low income taxpayers.’
Robin’s wide-ranging contribution to tax and benefits issues for low-paid people, especially through LITRG, is well known. What is perhaps less well known is his contribution to the work of the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS). Bill Dodwell, OTS tax director, said: ‘In 2018 the OTS started a review of taxation and life events – key problems affecting individuals. Robin joined the team for the review, which we could not have completed without his detailed knowledge and ideas. He was a pleasure to work with and a great team member.’
Robin was admired, loved and respected by all who met and worked with him. As David Brodie, founder and former director of charity TaxAid, said: ‘Robin was one of the finest people that I had the privilege to meet during my time in the tax world. He was a fundamentally decent and honourable man, with no “side” to him. His values were clear to everyone who worked with him; he was passionate that the tax system should be fair in its impact on all of us. When TaxAid set up its website, he generously agreed to be its voluntary editor, a role he fulfilled with complete professionalism. A lovely man – he will be sorely missed.’
