Tax simplification will be a priority, says Treasury

The House of Commons’ Treasury Committee asked how plans to embed tax simplification in HMRC and the Treasury were to work given that this was the reasoning for closing the Office of Tax Simplification.

In a written response the permanent secretary to the Treasury James Bowler said ‘Tax simplification is a priority for this government. Instead of having a separate arm’s length body to oversee simplification the government is now embedding tax simplification into the institutions of government. This will ensure simplification will be at the core of all tax policy-making and a key objective for tax policy officials in both the Treasury and HMRC.

‘To better embed simplification within the day-to-day tax policy-making process officials are progressing a programme of work which will include identification of priority policy areas where tax simplification could be progressed. Beth Russell second permanent secretary at the...