UK Tax Policy 2010-15: An Assessment
Published in Fiscal Studies, 2015
Abstract
The UK’s coalition government implemented £64 billion of tax rises and £48 billion of tax cuts during its term of office from 2010 to 2015. This paper assesses the design of the individual reforms and what they imply for the coherence of the tax system as a whole. The reforms included some significant structural changes to the way savings and pensions are taxed, but for the most part reforms involved simply changing rates and thresholds, with little attempt to address the fundamental structural deficiencies of the tax system. All in all, the coalition’s changes represent a missed opportunity to improve the tax system, leaving its successor with numerous challenges to address.
Recommended citation: S. Adam, B. Roantree, "UK Tax Policy 2010-15: An Assessment." Fiscal Studies, 2015.
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