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TAX POLICY


David Harkness reviews the Budget 2011 Tax Proposals

Patrick Cannon reviews the Budget 2011 Tax Proposals

Bill Dodwell reviews the Budget 2011 Tax Proposals

The 2011 Budget was an important test of the coalition government and the Chancellor.

There were no real surprises in relation to indirect tax – but that in itself is unsurprising, partly because the main taxes, VAT and Customs Duties, are European taxes so the opportunities for a Chancellor to make changes are very limited, and partly because most VAT changes need not wait for th

Returning the UK economy to strong sustainable and balanced growth requires a new model that is driven by investment and exports.

The Budget was a pretty decent one for business. No-one will be happy with everything in it, but we can be pleased with a good proportion of the measures.

Charities will no doubt welcome the proposed simplification of Gift Aid, and the inheritance tax incentive to leave over 10% of your estate to charity.

While fuel duty, income tax and corporation tax ‘giveaways’ took the Budget headlines, the CIOT’s attention was drawn to a range of reforms and proposals which could, if they fulfil their potential, make our tax system simpler, more certain and more transparent.

The staged increases in the basic personal allowance to £10,000 will take many low income people out of tax. But it will not necessarily make them better off, because of the complex interaction of the tax and national insurance with the benefits and tax credits systems.

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