northern-ireland-tax-devolution

Press Release: Tax bodies pledge support for Northern Ireland tax devolution process

17 October, 2018

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and the Association of Taxation Technicians (ATT) have underlined their commitment to make Northern Ireland’s tax powers a success.

Speaking ahead of the two organisations’ Joint Presidents’ Luncheon in Belfast today,1 CIOT President Ray McCann said:

“The CIOT understands the willingness of defined areas such as Northern Ireland for greater control of revenue raised from individuals, families and businesses in that area to be spent for the benefit of the whole community.

“The current uncertainties around the Brexit deal, the Executive, and things that flow from that such as the future of the Northern Ireland corporation tax rate, require political resolution. We would like to underline our commitment to lend the expertise of our members on tax matters to inform the debate and make the courses of action resolved upon a success.

“CIOT, alongside the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, published a report2 last week setting out our assessment of how devolution of tax powers to Scotland is understood by the broader public, and making recommendations for improving scrutiny and awareness in this area. These recommendations can be applied to tax devolution to other parts of the UK, too.”

ATT President Tracy Easman said:

“Devolution only adds to the importance of increasing the awareness and interest of the general public of tax issues, so that tax policy decisions are taken in the light of the broadest possible informed debate as to how tax should be levied. 

“It is very important that where taxing powers are devolved, the scope of that devolution is defined sensibly, to ensure that effective decision making can be made whether by the Northern Ireland Executive, which we hope will soon be restored, or indeed by the Scottish and Welsh Governments.

“The ATT is committed to ensuring that it supports tax professionals across the whole of Great Britain and Northern Ireland whether they work in private practice, in business or HMRC.”

(17-10-2018)

Notes for editors

  1. The Joint Presidents' Luncheon 2018 will be held at Titanic Belfast on Wednesday, October 17, 2018. It will be attended by politicians, civil servants, members of the CIOT and ATT and other invited guests.
  2. A new report by Scotland’s leading tax and accountancy bodies published on Friday 12 October 2018 recommended that more is done to improve public understanding and awareness of Scotland’s devolved tax powers. The call is backed up by the findings of a poll commissioned by the Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) for the Scottish Taxes Policy Forum – a collaboration between CIOT and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) – that found 84 per cent of Scots think that they need better information about how taxes are decided in Scotland.