Jean-Baptiste Colbert, a seventeenth-century French finance minister, once said “the art of taxation consists in so plucking the goose as … Continue reading “The government plans to hike taxes without you noticing”

Shortly before being sacked, George Osborne announced a plan to reduce the UK’s corporation tax rate to less than 15%, … Continue reading “Objectives for a post-Brexit tax policy”

Given the proximity to the election, most commentators predicted a ‘Budget of giveaways’, full of populist gimmicks. Judged against that … Continue reading “Osborne’s Budget delivers too little bang for the buck”

We should “choose the future” George Osborne insisted yesterday, in what may yet turn out to be his final Budget. … Continue reading “Small beer Budget: Osborne deserves credit for holding back on the bribery”

Youth unemployment and long-term unemployment have increased dramatically in the UK since the introduction of the minimum wage. However, things … Continue reading “La difference is alive and vivante”

The Conservatives have abandoned their manifesto commitment to raise the Inheritance Tax threshold as part of the coalition deal with the … Continue reading “The Conservatives should have stood firm on Inheritance Tax”

The Economist has repeatedly criticised the Conservative Party’s proposal to permit married couples to pool their income tax allowances. The plan … Continue reading “Raising the personal allowance: a Mephistophelean idea”

The Conservatives have abandoned their manifesto commitment to raise the Inheritance Tax threshold as part of the coalition deal with the … Continue reading “The Conservatives should have stood firm on Inheritance Tax”

The Economist has repeatedly criticised the Conservative Party’s proposal to permit married couples to pool their income tax allowances. The plan … Continue reading “Raising the personal allowance: a Mephistophelean idea”