Tax-related consultations to be published at the end of March

The Treasury has announced that to allow for more transparency and scrutiny documents and consultations that would traditionally be published at a Budget will be published on 23 March.

The government believes this will give tax professionals a better opportunity to respond to consultations and policy discussions which will strengthen policy-making. None will require legislation in the next Finance Bill or have an impact on the government’s finances. According to the Treasury several consultations will form part of the government’s ten-year tax administration strategy to create a tax system 'fit for the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century'.

Announcements which have implications for the government’s finances along with measures to be legislated in the Finance Bill will be made on Budget day in the normal way.

Chris Sanger EY’s head of tax policy said this would formalise the Budget into a...