Dan Neidle, a tax lawyer and campaigner known for his insightful analysis, joins Steph and Robert to discuss the implications of recent tax hikes, particularly the increase in employer national insurance, which he argues harms employment and low-income workers. He critiques Labour's proposed VAT on private school fees and discusses the need for inheritance tax reforms, urging farmers to trust their heirs. Neidle also highlights the complexities of capital gains tax and advocates for fairer tax policies to ensure equitable treatment.
Increasing employer national insurance is regressive, disproportionately impacting low-income workers and potentially harming the ruling party's electoral prospects.
The complexity of current tax laws and lack of significant reforms hinder economic growth, with particular focus on the inadequacies in inheritance tax policies for farmers.
Deep dives
Impact of Employer National Insurance Increases
Raising employer national insurance is considered a poor tax policy, particularly due to its regressive nature and unintended consequences. While it may seem beneficial for taxation overall, the burden falls primarily on employees through reduced wages and fewer job opportunities. This kind of taxation disproportionately affects lower-income workers, as the threshold for national insurance contributions has been lowered, leading to a higher impact on those with minimal earnings. Consequently, the policy could have significant political ramifications, especially if it depresses living standards, ultimately impacting the ruling party's chances in future elections.
Understanding the Tax Gap
The tax gap primarily stems from tax evasion rather than avoidance by large corporations or wealthy individuals. Much of the issue comes from small businesses and individuals who underreport income or pay cash to employees without declaring it. Addressing this requires a different approach, focusing on ground-level enforcement rather than pursuing sophisticated strategies against major corporations. This endeavor necessitates expertise within tax collection agencies and a strategic allocation of resources, as merely increasing funding without a targeted strategy may not yield the desired financial returns.
Call for Tax Reform and its Absence
Despite expectations, the recent governmental budget failed to introduce significant tax reforms, perpetuating inefficiencies in the current system. The complexities of existing tax laws hinder economic competitiveness, particularly affecting businesses and investments. Many believe this missed opportunity could restrict growth and future investments. The only notable change was a reconsideration of certain rules related to foreign business dealings, but critics argue that this is insufficient given the pressing need for comprehensive reform.
Inheritance Tax Policy Changes Impacting Farmers
New inheritance tax policies for agricultural businesses have stirred controversy, with many claiming significant adverse effects on farming viability. While the reform aims for fairer tax treatment across asset types, concerns arise regarding the number of farms that may be affected. Current estimates suggest that only a small fraction of farms will face real financial challenges due to the changes, prompting skepticism about the exaggerated rhetoric surrounding the reform. Effective planning and proactive responses can alleviate some of the anticipated negative impacts on genuine agricultural businesses.
Tax guru, Dan Neidle joins Steph and Robert to explain why the chancellor’s decision to increase employer’s national insurance was such a mistake, how capital gains tax should have been reformed and why farmers just have to trust their children if they want to avoid the new inheritance tax liability.