Raising Corporation Tax is not the answer to the UK’s deficit – MHA MacIntyre Hudson comments

Following reports today (19 January) that the Chancellor is considering raising Corporation Tax, Chris Denning, Head of Corporate and International Tax at MHA MacIntyre Hudson says the move, if it goes ahead, will not help the UK make the most of its post-Brexit position and believes a reduction to 17% might be a better approach:

“The Chancellor is in a difficult position but a higher rate of corporation tax is not the answer to shrinking the country’s deficit.  He would be better served by reducing the rate of taxes to corporate income to the originally planned 17%, thus enhancing our fiscal competiveness as we establish our position post-Brexit. If he still feels compelled to increase the corporation tax rate though, this should be accompanied by increased capital allowances and a widening of reliefs such as R&D tax credits and Patent Box relief in order to give businesses the incentive to invest.

 

“Corporation tax revenues are only 8% to 9% of the UK’s total tax intake. As such, this revenue would have to increase significantly in order to make any meaningful short-term impact. Unless the government is looking at a radical change in the proportion of tax revenues derived from Corporation Tax, then simply playing around with the rate would seem a relatively pointless exercise.

 

“It also goes against the logic of the UK’s post-Brexit position. The UK government has been trumpeting the tax benefits for businesses of locating in the UK since the referendum result. Having one of the lowest corporation tax rates in the G7 and G20 has been one of the principal selling factors. Given that we have now left the EU, the UK should be consolidating and enhancing its fiscal competiveness in order to stay first on the list of locations when non-UK businesses are considering expanding. This is what will lead to a stronger tax base in the long run.”