Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if she will commission the Office for Budget Responsibility to undertake an independent assessment of the fiscal impact of (a) withdrawing postponed VAT accounting for imports and (b) requiring payment of import VAT at the same time and using the same facilities as apply to customs duties, including the effects on Exchequer cash flow, the tax gap, and import VAT fraud.

Postponed VAT accounting provides significant support for businesses, helping to manage cash flow and facilitate imports. HMRC undertakes regular operational work to ensure compliance with the rules around postponed VAT accounting.

The VAT gap has reduced from 13.8% in 2005-06 to 6.5% in 2024-25, and has remained broadly stable since 2020-21.

The Government keeps all tax policy under review as part of the policy making process