Secondees sought to drive income tax/NI plans
Office of Tax Simplification seeks ten secondees to help its reports on income tax/NI and small business taxation
ACCOUNTING and tax secondees have been sought to help drive plans to merge income tax and National Insurance.
The Office of Tax Simplification, which is to be established as a permanent body and have its role expanded, aims to ramp up its staff numbers to deal with major projects.
Alongside the alignment of income tax and NI, a simplification project focusing on small business taxation is also likely to keep the office busy.
Up to ten secondees from the private sector have been requested by the office, in an attempt to produce reports ahead of the 2016 Budget. The part-time posts will require at least two days a week of work.
Big Four secondees working among government departments has proved controversial.
The Public Accounts Committee has previously accused the Treasury of effectively enabling Big Four firms to exert too much influence over tax policy.
Treasury Select Committee chairman Andrew Tyrie recently called for the Office of Tax Simplification to have more powers to act independently of the Treasury.
The office is chaired by Michael Jack MP and its tax director is John Whiting (pictured).