The Office of Tax Simplification, which will also be undertaking an IR35 review, has reported good progress on its first two reviews into simplifying the UK’s system.
It has also recruited four private sector experts to join its tax team, and is also having ongoing meetings with key contracting sector experts, including ContractorCalculator CEO Dave Chaplin.
IR35 expert Kate Cottrell of Bauer and Cottrell is the key contracting sector representative on the OTS. Cottrell, who will spend two days a week on OTS business, told ContractorCalculator: “I’m delighted to be involved and will be contributing my IR35 and contracting sector expertise to identifying taxation issues that concern contractors.”
The OTS has also announced a nationwide series of roadshows, starting in November, at which the OTS team will be seeking views and ideas on where exactly the tax system is most complex for contractors and other small businesses. These will be a good forum for contractors to voice their views on the IR35 review directly to those who will be making recommendations to government.
According to Cottrell, she and her new colleagues from accountancy firms Deloitte, PwC, BDO, HM Treasury and HMRC face a lot of hard work. “We will be getting out there on the road to talk to as many people as possible,” says Cottrell. “We want to hear and understand what worries people.”
OTS Tax Director John Whiting is pleased with how his team is taking shape: “I am delighted to have such an experienced team with their wide range of tax backgrounds in place, and I am very grateful to the firms that have released them.”
The first report on simplifying tax reliefs and small business taxation, including initial results of the IR35 review, will go to the Chancellor in advance of the April 2011 Budget, although the pace of the review makes it unlikely that there will be changes to IR35 announced in that Budget.
Published: Friday, October 22, 2010
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