CEO's welcome: Building up our knowledge!

CEO's welcome: Building up our knowledge!
24 March 2025

By the time you read this, we should know the outcome and content of the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement, to be delivered on 26 March. The chancellor is committed to just one major fiscal event a year. However, at the time of writing (early March), there has been much speculation about whether she will use the event to do more than simply provide the Office for Budgetary Responsibility’s Economic and Fiscal Forecast.

Areas being put forward for change are a general increase to the income tax rates; a reduction on the amount that can be put into an ISA tax-free from its current limit of £20,000; and further cuts to government spending and benefits. This should all now beknown, and our technical teams will be analysing the tax implications of the Spring Statement for our members and their clients.

The CIOT was delighted to co-host a conference on 20 years of HMRC with the ICAEW’s Tax Faculty on 11 March, with speakers including Lord Gus O’Donnell and Treasury Minister James Murray. It was attended by the new Permanent Secretary John-Paul Marks and a team from HMRC. There is a full write up on page XX.

For those seeking to enhance their tax knowledge and further their continuing professional development (CPD), there is still time to secure a place at the CIOT Spring Virtual Conference on Wednesday 23 April and Thursday 24 April. The conference will address a wide range of pertinent issues, such as the evolving landscape of R&D tax relief claims, exit planning for owner-managed businesses in 2025/26 and beyond, and strategies for optimising compliance with professional standards while minimising administrative burdens.

For the programme and how to register, see www.tax.org.uk/svc2025.

Looking further ahead, on Wednesday 4 June the ATT and CIOT will be holding the inaugural Tax Technology Conference 2025 in Birmingham, where we will explore the latest advancements and best practices in AI and technology in taxation. This is a fast developing area and is designed for those who are new to AI and tax technology, as well as those already implementing these advancements. The conference will provide an engaging experience with keynote speakers, panel discussion, interactive breakout sessions and a demonstration/exhibition area for networking and knowledge sharing. For the full programme and registration details, see tinyurl.com/37py7dds.

Providing top quality CPD via conferences, webinars and our Branch Network is an instrumental and important element of how we help to demonstrate our compliance with our charitable objectives of advancing the education of taxation. This remit goes beyond that which we provide to our members, however. For example, the ATT provide several How to Guides aimed at both members in practice and members of the public. These include coverage of Making Tax Digital, capital gains tax, the UK property reporting service, and how to set up a business. The full list of the How to Guides can be found at www.att.org.uk/how-guides.

As well as educational guides, the ATT has produced a series of educational YouTube videos, including those for children and young people, for employees on understanding their payslips and P60, the ATT qualification, and a career in tax. The full list is at www.att.org.uk/videos.

During April, the ATT technical officers will be producing 12 more YouTube videos, covering the higher rate of income tax, MTD for landlords and the self-employed and the trading allowance – as well as a fun look at some weird historical taxes (such as the beard tax and soap tax!) for children. If there are subjects you would like us to consider for future videos, please email us at [email protected].

Finally, many congratulations to the new CTA Associates who celebrated their achievements at the CIOT’s Admission ceremonies at Drapers’ Hall on 6 March. Further coverage is on page XX.