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Tax Review dominates the week ahead

Tax Review dominates the week ahead

Saturday 14 January 2023

Tax Review dominates the week ahead

Saturday 14 January 2023


A number of public presentations and meetings are planned over the next few days to ensure people know what could be changed in relation to the way we pay our tax and social security contributions.

Today, at Beau Sejour between 10:00 and 12:00, members of the Policy and Resources committee will be available to discuss their proposals.

Their plans include a goods and services tax, but also a much wider range of policies including changing how social security contributions are collected and the amount of earnings at which income tax is collected.

P&R say this will ensure the least well off in the island are better off compared to their income now.

Opposition to the plans was expected and it has mainly focused on the GST element. 

P&R say this morning's event at Beau Sejour means that members of the public can speak one on one to the States Members who have developed the recommendations due to be debated later this month.

Opposing plans to the official States recommendation letter have already been mooted - with the first official amendment lodged by Deputy Charles Parkinson on Friday.

His proposal includes a Corporate Income Tax - CIT - instead of a GST.

He'll be explaining what that means during a public presentation on Monday evening.

Tickets are free but must be booked via Eventbrite for the evening at St Pierre Park Hotel.

Further amendments are expected including one authored by Deputy Gavin St Pier who has himself said that further efforts should be made to cut government spending and to raise revenue elsewhere without introducing GST.

beau séjour theatre  

Pictured: The P&R roadshow is making use of States facilities including Beau Sejour foyer and theatre.

Come Tuesday next week, there will be a further public presentation hosted by P&R.

From 19:00 they will be discussing their plans during a live streamed event at the Beau Sejour theatre.

They will also take questions from the audience at Beau Sejour.

Further opposition to the official P&R plans will come following that meeting, with the former Chief Economist for the States of Guernsey discussing why he thinks changes should be on hold until after "underlying economic issues" have been properly addressed.

Dr Andy Sloan - now working for the International Sustainability Institute (ISI) - is publishing a paper on the Guernsey Tax Review at a seminar at the Old Government House at 11:45 on the 19 January.

His paper will "outline considerations of underlying economic issues that have not formed part of any of the analysis presented by the States to date and gives the Institute concerns with the long term sustainability of the proposals". 

He has been reviewing the official proposals and said: 

"We were approached to provide our thoughts on the issues, and having read the analysis provided in the Policy Letter published just before Christmas, do have some concerns that some underlying economic issues have been overlooked. The purpose of the ISI is to contribute sustainable research and thought and so we also have given thought to a more radical approach which we believe could significantly improve economic competitiveness and the sustainability of the tax regime." 

Andy Sloan IoD

Pictured: Dr Andy Sloan speaking at a previous event IoD.

The following week, some of Guernsey's Deputies will travel to Alderney to speak with members of the public about the tax and social security plans.

P&R will be respresented at the meeting between 10:00 and 12:00 on Saturday, January 21 at the Butes Centre.

READ MORE...

CIT suggested instead of GST

Social security changes help poorer families and 'middle Guernsey'

Tax plan includes 5% GST - but P&R says most families will be better off

Why States leaders STILL think GST and tax reform is needed

"Unacceptable" and "damaging" service cuts if States reject GST

Is corporate tax the answer?

 

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