Tax
Future Forum North: 'Business rates will be like Tudor beard tax'
A senior finance director has said ‘anachronistic’ business rates are ‘going in the direction of the Tudor beard tax’.
Picking up the pieces and rethinking public services
As Rishi Sunak braces the UK for tax rises 'it has to be about more than just replenishing the public purse', writes Heather Jameson. 'This is a chance to rethink public services and how we fund them.'
Sunak to reveal £5bn for high streets
Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected announce a further £5bn to rescue high streets in the Budget on Wednesday.
'Amazon tax' will make matters worse, says MP
Adding an online sales tax to a broken business rates system will only make matters worse, a Conservative MP who is pushing to scrap business rates has said.
White van man on... tax
I’m never in favour of taxes which is why I’m a master at avoiding them (except for last year when I got hoist with my own ‘petal’ or whatever it’s called ‘cos after years of telling the taxman I only earned peanuts thanks to all my ‘expenses’ – the Government turned round and said in that case you can’t get any free dosh from that furlough whatnot).
LGA presses to move powers out of London
Moving powers from the capital to the regions is more important than moving civil servants, the chair of the Local Government Association (LGA) has said.
Online sales tax backed by London
The local government sector in the capital has advocated the introduction of an online sales tax (OST).
Coronavirus leads to scrapping of three-year Spending Review
Plans to create a three-year settlement for public spending have been abandoned as latest figures show the havoc coronavirus is wreaking on the public finances.
Fixing local government’s financial plumbing
The inevitable result of the funding framework for councils is a disempowered local government, underserved citizens and wasted public money, says Lizzie Insall. She says the sustainable solution lies in ‘fixing the plumbing of local government finance’.
The Government cannot keep kicking the can down the road
Despite manifesto commitments, there will have to be tax rises to repay that massive debt, writes Ian Miller - and support for well-funded public services has found a new voice during the pandemic, he adds.
White van man on... tax
There’s an old phrase which says: if you owe the bank ten grand you’ve got a problem, but if you owe the bank a million quid then they’ve got a problem. Well, that’s the situation that geezer Dishi finds himself in.
Call for multi-year funding
Ministers have been urged to commit to multi-year settlements for local government by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).
Mind the gap in Scotland
The latest figures show Scotland’s deficit between income and spending compared to the deficit for the whole of the UK has widened. Michael Burton delves into the statistics.
Retail chiefs call for more rate relief as Sunak considers tax hikes
Retail chiefs have urged Chancellor Rishi Sunak to extend business rate relief just as he plans tax rises to reduce the £2 trillion hole in the public finances.
What’s the recovery position?
The chancellor has opened the door to a less generous funding settlement for public services, but will he end up turning his back on a slash-and-burn approach? Martin Ford reports.
Think tank calls for sweeping reforms to local taxes
A group of former Treasury special advisers have called for revaluation of the council tax and reform of business rates to boost the economy post-COVID-19.
Don't lose the increased recognition due to a failure to fund services
It would be a tragedy for local government if an increased recognition of its role in keeping society functioning in the toughest of circumstances is quickly lost by a failure to properly fund these very services in the future, argues Paul O'Brien.
Tax needs a 'fundamental overhaul', says IfG
A combination of higher public spending due to coronavirus and rising social care costs means the tax system is in need of a fundamental overhaul, says a report from the Institute for Government (IfG).
Care crisis’ answers are already out there
There have been enough reports on the future funding of social care to fill a Whitehall filing cabinet, most of which have ended up in the one marked ‘too difficult', says Michael Burton.
Future Forum North: IFS boss praises 'sensible' Labour tax proposals
The director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies has urged whoever is elected next week to look at ‘sensible’ dividend and capital gains tax proposals.
