Research Briefing
This note discusses the Coalition Government's policy over 2010-15 to increase the basic personal allowance each year, with the aim that the allowance should reach £10,000 by 2015, before looking at the current Government's approach to increasing both the personal allowance and the higher rate threshold - the point at which individuals start to pay the 40% top rate of tax.
Research Briefing
In the 2009 Budget the Labour Government announced the introduction of a new 'additional' 50p rate on incomes above £150,000 from April 2010. This paper discusses the background to the 50p rate, the debate over its political significance and its economic impact, before looking at the Coalition Government’s decision to cut the additional rate to 45p, and recent speculation as to its future.
Research Briefing
This note discusses the introduction in April 2000 of 'IR35' - legislation to tackle the exploitation of personal service companies as a means to avoid tax.
Research Briefing
This briefing paper has been prepared in advance of the debate in the House Commons on Monday 16 July on the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Bill - sometimes referred to as the Customs Bill.
Research Briefing
Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is charged on insurance premiums and covers most general insurance. This note gives a short history of the tax since it was introduced in 1993, including the rise in the main rate of tax confirmed in the Spring 2017 Budget.
Research Briefing
In March 2015 Parliament passed the Corporation Tax (Northern Ireland) Act 2015 which, subject to commencement regulations, will devolve corporation tax rate setting powers to the Northern Ireland Assembly. The Government has committed to commencing the regime if the NI Executive demonstrates its finances are on a sustainable footing. This note discusses the development of the Government’s policy and the wider debate over corporate tax competition.
Research Briefing
A person's 'domicile' is their permanent home, and while this is a concept of general law, it has long been an important consideration in an individual's liability to pay tax in the UK. "Non-domiciles" who live in the UK have been entitled to be taxed under the "remittance basis", where any overseas income or gains is only subject to UK tax if remitted to this country. In the Summer 2015 Budget the Government announced a number of major changes to non-domicile taxation which are to take effect from April 2017. This paper discusses the background to these proposals and the current debate as to their impact.
Research Briefing
In the Autumn Budget 2017 the Government announced that it would introduce an income tax and NICs exemption for certain allowances paid to Armed Forces personnel for renting or maintaining accommodation in the UK private market. Provision to this effect was included in the Finance Bill published after the Budget, and now forms section 8 of Finance Act 2018.
Research Briefing
Finance Bill 2016 includes provision - specifically clause 7 of the Bill - to ensure that if there is a specific statutory provision for calculating the tax charge on a benefit-in-kind this must be used. This note explains the purpose of this clause.
Research Briefing
The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations SI 2018/120 were laid on 1 February, and came into force from 6 April 2018.
Research Briefing
This paper sets out direct tax rates and principal tax allowances for the 2018/19 tax year, as announced in the Autumn Budget on 22 November 2017. The paper outlines the conditions necessary for eligibility for these tax allowances, and provides a summary of the general tax position in straightforward cases.
Debate Pack
On 27 March 2018 Neil O'Brien MP (Con., Harborough) has a debate in Westminster Hall between 2.30 and 4.00pm on the taxation of digital companies. This page gives a brief overview of the key issues.
Research Briefing
The Commission published a draft legal text of the withdrawal agreement in February 2018 and an updated draft on 15 March. On 19 March a third text was published which showed where there is full agreement between the EU and the UK, where there is agreement in principle and where there is no agreement. This paper looks at the recent draft, making reference to earlier drafts where relevant.
Debate Pack
This House of Commons briefing page has been prepared in advance of a debate on motions relating to Universal Credit, Children and Young Persons and Social Security. This will take place in the main House of Commons Chamber on Tuesday 13th March 2018.
Debate Pack
The Chancellor, Philip Hammond, presented the Government's first Autumn Budget on 22 November 2017. The Government published the Finance Bill, to implement the tax measures contained in the Budget, on Friday 1 December, and the Bill received a Second Reading on Monday 11 December.
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