AAT outlines proposals to 'protect taxpayers from tax rises'

05 Sep 2018

In a new report, the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) has outlined a range of proposals designed to help raise funds for the NHS without instigating tax rises.

The publication of the report comes following the Prime Minister’s recent pledge to raise £20 billion per year for the NHS by 2023/24. In response to this, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) warned that tax rises will be required in order to fund NHS budget increases.

According to the AAT, its proposals would ‘raise over £27 billion’ while protecting UK taxpayers from increased government borrowing or tax rises.

Within the report, the AAT has urged the government to simplify inheritance tax (IHT); abolish the Marriage Allowance; remove higher rate tax relief for pension contributions; and switch stamp duty liability from the buyer to the seller.

The AAT acknowledged that some of its recommendations would ‘raise significant political challenges’, but stated that the proposals ‘make financial sense’.

Commenting on the matter, Phil Hall, Head of Public Affairs and Public Policy at the AAT, said: ‘AAT’s recommendations will not clear the deficit or enable investment to be showered across the country, but they do identify over £27 billion of annual savings and deserve serious consideration as a worthwhile, credible and thought-provoking contribution to the UK taxation and investment debate.’

The report can be read in full here.