Press release: 5 July 2001
CIOT welcomes the publication of the National Audit Office report into the self assessment system. The Chartered Institute of Taxation, (CIOT), the UK’s leading professional body for tax advisers, welcomes the publication of the National Audit Office report into the self assessment system.
CIOT President John Whiting said:
“We agree that the introduction of self assessment has generally improved the administration of income tax. However, we believe that more needs to be done to reduce the number of boxes on the self assessment form and simplify the tax calculation guide.
“It is concerning that there remain a significant number of taxpayers who fail to get their returns in on time. We repeat a call we have made in the past for research into why people fail to comply on time. We would have expected the National Audit Office to make that point more strongly.”
John Whiting continued:
“We would have liked to have seen some work on the effectiveness of the Revenue’s “process now, check later” system. The Report notes there are some £100m of processing errors – it would be good to know how effective the Revenue are at correcting them. Too often mistakes mean extra work for our members and taxpayers.”
The Chartered Institute of Taxation has recently launched a campaign which challenges the Government to simplify the tax system. It welcomes the National Audit Office report which looks at the Inland Revenue methods for identifying missing taxpayers – ghosts and moonlighters – getting returns in and the enquiry process. On the enquiry process, the National Audit Office endorsed the previous research report carried out jointly by the Chartered Institute of Taxation and Inland Revenue and the Revenue’s planned actions.
Contacts:
John Whiting:
020 7804 4422
07710 027595 (M)
Vivien Rees:
020 7235 9381
NOTE FOR EDITORS:
The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT), the leading professional body in the United Kingdom concerned solely with taxation, was established in 1930 and received its Royal Charter in 1994. The CIOT’s primary purpose is to promote education in and the study of the administration and practice of taxation. Members of the CIOT have the practising title of “Chartered Tax Adviser”.
One of the CIOT’s key aims is to achieve a better, more efficient, tax system for all affected by it - taxpayers, advisers and the authorities. The CIOT will frame its comments and recommendations on tax issues solely in order to achieve its aims: it is entirely apolitical in its work.
Membership of the CIOT is open to individuals from all disciplines who are competent and qualified to advise on taxation matters. Entrance is through its associateship examination, from which members may advance to fellowship by thesis. An increasing number of members hold the CIOT qualification as their main professional qualification.
The CIOT deals with all aspects of direct and indirect taxation. It is the United Kingdom member of the Confédération Fiscale Européenne (CFE), the umbrella body for taxation advisers in Europe. The CFE represents a total of over 150,000 tax advisers throughout the European Union and its neighbouring countries. It plays a full part in the development and operation of tax legislation in the Union and supports the establishment and maintenance of the rights of tax advisers within the Union.
In 1989 the CIOT sponsored the formation of The Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT). The ATT, with which the Institute maintains a close relationship, provides the qualification “Taxation Technician”. Its examination also acts as a stepping stone towards membership of the Institute.
The CIOT and ATT are registered charities.
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Tel: 020 7235 9381
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