Influencing Tax Policy

The need to improve tax systems is as great as ever, and there is growing international debate about what works best for taxpayers as a whole. Our Towards a Better Tax System programme of work addresses the practical challenges faced when designing and implementing changes to tax systems.

The ICAEW Tax Faculty will pursue its Thought Leadership work under three main heads: Business, People and Delivery. The aim of this thought leadership programme is to consider the challenges faced by tax systems and help shape solutions suitable for the 21st century. We intend to involve stakeholders including taxpayers and intermediaries, policy makers, tax administrations and academics.

Chartered accountants have a unique perspective on tax. They work both in, and with, business and are able to offer practical and informed views based on daily experience.

Since its formation in 1991 the ICAEW Tax Faculty has been engaged in thought leadership work. It hosts the annual Hardman Lecture in which a leading figure from the tax world, or from Government, addresses a critical tax policy issue. The ICAEW Tax Faculty also hosts the annual Wyman Debate or Symposium. These two events are amongst the most prestigious on the UK tax calendar.

The Tax Faculty has formulated Ten Tenets for a better tax system. This comprises ten key characteristics against which to evaluate tax systems and tax policies. It has published a paper explaining what these Ten Tenets mean in practice in relation to the UK tax system.