Third Special Report: Tax after coronavirus: response to the Committee’s First Report of Session 2021–22

This is the government's response, published 14 September 2021.

Summary written by Accountability Index from the government's response. It is not the government's own words.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury responds that the Government recognises "value in publishing roadmaps" in particular areas of the tax system, but does not set out a broad tax strategy, because pre-announcing one "could undermine" its revenue-raising objective.

• The response acknowledges that "there can be value in publishing roadmaps to provide clarity and certainty over the long term development of different aspects of the tax system".
• It cites the Tax Administration Strategy and the Corporate Tax roadmap as examples, stating that neither "covered broad tax strategy as such". The first sets out plans for how tax is paid, "without limiting the ability of the Government to set policy".
• On why it does not publish a broad tax strategy, it states that the Chancellor is expected to make decisions on tax "in the round at fiscal events", to support the wider fiscal strategy as economic conditions change.
• It states that pre-announcing broad tax policy "could undermine" the revenue objective and "would risk forestalling and other responses that would reduce revenues". The letter sets out no new commitment or timetable.

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