Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what plans his Department has to simplify the tax code (a) in general and (b) for SMEs.

The Government is committed to a tax system that is simple to understand and easy to comply with for all its users, while also tackling avoidance and evasion and ensuring fairness.

Since 2010, the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has offered independent advice and recommendations on making the tax system simpler and easier to interact with for taxpayers. In March 2021, the Government commenced the first statutory five-year review of the OTS, to ensure it is as effective as possible.

Changes to the tax system can have a wide impact, and so any reform needs to be well planned, incorporating the wider views of its users. As such, the Government published a call for evidence in March 2021, seeking input on how to modernise the tax administration framework, as part of the 10-year Tax Administration Strategy.