CIOT welcomes Law Commission's suggestions on legal review

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) welcomes the Law Commission’s suggestions for the development of a formal system of reviewing laws after they have been brought into force. John Cullinane, CIOT President, says: “It is abundantly clear that there is a need for a Tax Law Commission. That body would be modelled on the Law Commission with a brief to keep all tax laws under review, and to recommend reform where it is needed.”

The Law Commission has called for legislation to be scrutinised by a joint Parliamentary committee. This would assess whether the legislation is working in practice.

John Cullinane adds: “If tax law were assessed on a regular basis, this would undoubtedly improve the way in which tax is administered. This is why I have argued that the rule of law must be returned to the tax system and recently asked for a Taxpayers’ Charter to be in next year’s Budget. As the leading UK professional body for taxation, the CIOT believes that the rights and responsibilities of the citizen and tax administrator should be clearly set down in order to achieve an appropriate balance between the parties, in a system that has become rich in complexity and poor in explanation.”

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For press information contact Simon Goldie on 020 7245 4122 (direct line - 24 hours). Email sgoldie@ciot.org.uk

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Simon Goldie