ACCA calls for tax policy board to be established

ACCA's tax chief has challenged Gordon Brown to set up a panel of experts that would have responsibility for setting the UK's tax rate.

In a column in the Daily Mail, Chas Roy-Chowdhury said that a tax board should be set up, which would have a similar mandate to that of the Monetary Policy Committee.

ACCA's head of taxation believes the move will give a greater insight into the complexities of setting tax rates and provide greater transparency.

Roy-Chowdhury said: 'With a TPC, we believe tax policy decisions would, like the MPC, be more effective, open, accountable and free from short-term political manipulation.'

He added: 'Because tax is complex, it regularly confounds personal and business tax payers; from small firms to large businesses. Successive Budgets and subsequent finance bills are pulling the tax system along the path to even greater complexity.'

Further reading:

Taxpayers have a right to know their rights