Introduction from Richard Wild, Head of Tax Technical Team

By the time you read this issue of Tax Adviser I will have been in my role for around seven weeks. I am delighted to be back working for the CIOT, having worked part time as a Technical Officer in Indirect Taxes for six months in 2013.

I do not intend to set out my CV in the following paragraphs (anyone interested can consult LinkedIn). Rather, I will highlight the work of the Technical Team, and what you (yes, you) can do to help.

Before becoming a Technical Officer of the CIOT in 2013 I had no real idea about the Technical Team, even though I had been a member for more than 15 years; what it was, what it did, and how I (as an ‘ordinary’ member) benefited from its work. Would it surprise you to know that, last year, the Technical Team produced more than 150 formal submissions on tax matters, and attended countless meetings and had other communications with HMRC and the Treasury? All this work is intended to help the CIOT meet its key objectives for the tax system, which include:

• greater simplicity and clarity, so people can understand how much tax they should be paying and why;
• greater certainty, so businesses and individuals can plan ahead with confidence;
• a legislative process that translates policy intentions into statute accurately and effectively, without unintended consequences;
• a fair balance between the powers of tax collectors and the rights of taxpayers (both represented and unrepresented); and
• responsive and competent tax administration, with a minimum of bureaucracy.

The few Technical Officers are supported by dozens of sub-committee members who, entirely voluntarily, give their time and expertise to the CIOT to assist in making these submissions and in attending meetings and discussions with relevant parties. Without these volunteers the CIOT would not be able to make the number and quality of representations that it does.

So, my vision for the future is one of greater engagement:

• by the Technical Team with members, so that they are continually informed and can easily understand and easily access its work; and
• by members with the Technical Team, either through joining of sub-committees, or bringing the CIOT’s attention to problem areas or technical issues that require attention.

The remainder of this month’s Technical Newsdesk section summarises some of our recent work. At the time of writing in early December, the CIOT website is being rebuilt.

However, I would encourage all readers to visit the Technical section of www.tax.org.uk as we intend to develop this into a readily accessible area to show what we have been doing – and how you may be able to help. In the meantime, email me any comments at rwild@ciot.org.uk.