Why ICAEW is establishing the commission?
Tax shapes decisions about work, saving, investment and enterprise, as well as the country’s ability to fund public services.
When the system is complex or unpredictable, it increases costs, makes planning harder and can create barriers to growth.
ICAEW members work with the tax system every day, advising people and organisations of every size and across every sector.
Their experience points to the need for a more coherent approach: one that looks beyond the next fiscal event and asks how taxation can keep pace with a changing economy.
Convened by ICAEW, independent in its conclusions
ICAEW will convene, fund and support the commission, while the chair and commissioners will independently determine its evidence, conclusions and recommendations within the agreed terms of reference.
Its recommendations will not require ICAEW approval and will not automatically become ICAEW policy.
What the commission will do?
- Look at the system as a whole, rather than starting with a single tax or a predetermined answer.
- Follow the evidence, drawing on expertise from taxation, economics, business, investment and public policy.
- Listen to experience, including insight from ICAEW members, businesses and wider stakeholders.
- Examine the choices and trade-offs across growth, revenue, work, investment, competitiveness, simplicity and public confidence.
- Focus on delivery, considering how reform could be sequenced and implemented in practice.
A roadmap for reform
Substantive work will begin in early 2027, with research, evidence gathering and engagement to identify the main challenges facing the tax system and where reform could have the greatest impact.
It plans to publish thematic reports during 2027 and 2028, followed by an integrated final report and roadmap for reform in the first quarter of 2029.
Further details of the Future of Tax Commission’s remit, membership and programme will be published in January 2027.
How to contribute
The Future of Tax Commission will invite evidence and engage with people and organisations across the UK as its programme develops. Opportunities to submit evidence and take part in engagement will be published as substantive work begins in 2027.
Keep checking this page for updates.
Meet the Chair: Mark Hoban
Mark Hoban works at the intersection of public policy, business and regulation.
Since 2015, he has had a series of board roles in the financial services sector including chairing boards. He has also led several public policy initiatives.
He was the MP for Fareham between 2001 and 2015. He was a Treasury Minister from 2010 to 2012 and prior to that part of the Conservative Treasury team.
He is an ICAEW Chartered Accountant having trained at PwC.
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