Ensuring a modern and competitive regime for the financial sector and facilitating review as required
The UK Government wishes to examine whether there is need for reform of the VAT regime as it applies to financial services in order to ensure a modern and competitive regime for the financial sector, while also ensuring stability of revenue. As announced at Budget 2020, Her Majesty’s Treasury (HMT) and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) are therefore establishing the ‘Financial Services VAT Working Group’ on the future of VAT Financial Services to look at the question of reform and make recommendations as to whether a review is needed.
The role of the Financial Services VAT Working Group is to produce recommendations to the UK government on whether to launch a wholesale review of the VAT treatment of financial services in the UK. Alternatively, it may produce recommendations on which areas would benefit from narrower reform. The Financial Services Working Group will examine the UK VAT and Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) treatment of all financial services and produce recommendations on whether there is a need for reform to simplify and improve competitiveness based on a broadly revenue neutral framework.
Group purpose
VAT Reform in Financial Services is made up of firms that manufacture, sell and service financial services products so has a deep understanding of how the industry works across the distribution lifecycle and how each stage is impacted by VAT. Crucially representing the consumer and understanding how the indirect tax regime influences decision-making, and the impact that proposed changes to VAT law may have. TISA is in a strong position to advise HMT, HMRC and their advisers on how proposed changes to VAT will affect the industry and consumer as well as warn of potential unintended consequences. TISA is also in a strong position to monitor the effect of implemented new VAT regime and advise HMT and HMRC accordingly.
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Bank of Ireland (UK) PLC
Barclays Wealth
CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
Hargreaves Lansdown
Killik & Co LLP
LGT Wealth Management UK LLP
Lloyds Banking Group
RBC Brewin Dolphin
Salesforce
Sanlam Financial Services UK Ltd
St James’s Place Wealth Management
Triplea Advisory Group
Lisa Laybourn, Head of Technical Policy and Risk leads on this work at TISA
Chair: Anna Burchner, CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang LLP
