Tax Reliefs

Treasury Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 21 Jul 2022 Closed: 16 Jan 2024 Parliament page
In this inquiry, the Treasury Committee will examine the tax reliefs available to both individuals and businesses, with a focus on the overall impact of tax reliefs on the UK economy. Read the call for evidence to find out more about the inquiry
6 Recommendations
4 Conclusions
1 Report
7 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 13 events
18 Oct
2023
Report published
26 Jul
2023
Report published
13 Jul
2023
Correspondence
13 Jul
2023
Correspondence
12 Jul
2023
Correspondence
12 Jul
2023
Correspondence
14 Jun
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
17 May
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
29 Mar
2023
Correspondence
13 Mar
2023
Correspondence
13 Mar
2023
Correspondence
1 Mar
2023
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Grimond Room, Portcullis House
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Twentieth Report - Tax Reliefs HC 723 26 Jul 2023 10 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
2 results
Clear
1 Conclusion Accepted
Twentieth Report - Tax Reliefs
Complexity of the tax system exacerbated by the ever-expanding suite of tax reliefs.
The tax system is too complicated. The huge and seemingly ever-expanding suite of tax reliefs is an important factor in that complexity. We welcome, and will monitor, the Treasury’s commitment to simplifying the tax system. That simplification cannot merely focus … Read more
Government Response
The government affirms its existing commitment to simplifying the tax system, with the Chancellor taking personal responsibility and a mandate for officials to focus on both new and existing rules, stating that most reliefs work well and reviews are already underway where needed.
HM Treasury
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7 Recommendation Accepted
Twentieth Report - Tax Reliefs
Monitor maintained tax reliefs for abuse indicators, including external consultation on policy design
Tax reliefs have been abused. The most straightforward way to reduce opportunities for such abuse is to simplify the tax system. Where tax reliefs are maintained, we recommend the Government monitor them for indications of abuse as part of ongoing … Read more
Government Response
The government states it already meets the recommendation, affirming it takes abuse seriously and actively monitors tax reliefs. It details existing processes including inter-departmental collaboration, seeking external consultation, continual monitoring of costs and take-up, and using various tools to address abuse.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 10 of 6 classified
Accepted 2
Acknowledged 1
Rejected 7
Total 6 recs + 4 conclusions
Correspondence 7 letters
13 Jul 2023 Correspondence from the Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design, HM Revenue and Customs, relating to oral evidence provided to the Committee on 17 May, dated 7 June
Parliament page
13 Jul 2023 Correspondence from the Director General, Customer Strategy and Tax Design, HM Revenue and Customs, relating to tax relief evaluation, dated 31 May
Parliament page
12 Jul 2023 To committee Letter from the Chair to the Financial Secretary and Economic Secretary to the Treasury relating to Tax Reliefs, dated 21 June
Parliament page
12 Jul 2023 To committee Letter from the Financial Secretary and Economic Secretary to the Treasury to the Chair relating to Tax Reliefs, dated 30 June
Parliament page
29 Mar 2023 Correspondence from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, relating to the Office of Tax Simplification, dated 20 March
Parliament page
13 Mar 2023 Correspondence from the Chair to the Chancellor, relating to the Office of Tax Simplification, dated 2 March
Parliament page
13 Mar 2023 Correspondence from the Office of Tax Simplification relating to the session on Tax Reliefs on 1 March, dated 7 March
Parliament page