Taxation: Tax Collection

Lord Hamilton of Epsom Excerpts

Tuesday 5th February 2013 Lords Chamber

[Lord Newby]

I am surprised that the noble Lord does not know that the Government are committed to introducing a general anti-abuse rule in this year’s Finance Bill.

[Lord Hamilton of Epsom]

My Lords, the Government could do with fewer tax inspectors if they simplified the tax system. How are they doing on that?

[Lord Newby]

My Lords, I think everybody agrees that we have a particularly barnacle-encrusted tax system. This Government have set up the Office of Tax Simplification, which has started work in this area. One advantage of the general anti-abuse rule is that once such a rule is in place, it should not be necessary to introduce as much new tax legislation to deal with tax abuse, because the general rule will cover it.