Peer blames tax complexity on 'huge' avoidance industry.
A Labour peer this week blamed the complexity of the UK tax system on
Lord Haskel claimed many members of the tax avoidance industry were the very same people who continuously called for tax simplification.
The debate was sparked by former English ICA president Baroness Noakes who enquired how the government would respond to the institute’s tax simplification campaign and questioned whether it was committed, in any sense, to tax simplification. Lord McIntosh of Haringey said he agreed with several of the 10 tax tenants in the institute’s ‘tax manifesto’, and called the report ‘interesting’ and ‘worthwhile’.
But he disagreed with Baroness Noakes’ accusation that the 600-page Finance Bill was too complex, saying the length of the Bill was no indication of its value.