Business Tax Forum
The Business Tax Forum (BTF) was formed as part of the 2001 Review of Links with Business and exists to improve the operation of the tax system for both HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and large business.
The role of the Business Tax Forum is to foster a stronger relationship and greater understanding between large businesses, HMRC and HM Treasury, taking a strategic-level view and aiming to improve the
- administration of the tax system;
- implementation of Government policy;
- understanding of the commercial environment; and
- awareness of the concerns of business.
The first meeting of the forum took place in September 2002 and the minutes and agendas for all the meetings thus far can be found below, as can the terms of reference (updated December 2008). The Forum meets on a quarterly basis.
Membership of BTF
The BTF is jointly chaired by Melanie Dawes, Acting Director General, HMRC, and Julian Heslop, Chief Financial Officer for GlaxoSmithKline PLC.
Secretariat is provided jointly by HMRC Business Customer Unit and Ian Brimicombe (100 Group).
Also represented on the Forum are –
HM Revenue & Customs
Stephen Banyard - Director, Business Customer Unit
Judith Knott - Director, Business International Directorate
Freda Chaloner - Director, Large Business Service
Naomi Ferguson - Director, Local Compliance
Jim Harra - Director, CT&VAT
Business representatives
Brian Chapman - CBI
Abdul Nabi - 100 Group
John Connors - 100 Group
Paul Morton - 100 Group
Jean Sharp - 100 Group
Kirsten White - CBI
Tim Voak - CBI
Ian Menzies-Conacher - CBI
Mike Sufrin - CBI
Michael Devereux - Oxford University Centre for Business Taxation
Meetings are also attended by representatives from HM Treasury and the DBERR (formerly DTI).
Review of Links with Business
The 2001 Review of Links with Business was published alongside the Pre-Budget Report in 2001. The Review looked at how to improve the relationship between large businesses and the Inland Revenue. The 2006 Review built on the progress made since 2001 and since the merger of the two Departments in 2005. For more details on the 2006 Review of Links please see HM Revenue & Customs: 2006 Review of Links with Large Business.
Subgroups
The BTF has established or has defined links with a number of subgroups. These include the LBS Large Corporates Forum and subgroups set up specifically to look at the topics of transfer pricing and International Accounting Standards. The BTF also has a working relationship with a number of other groups, from which it can commission further research on particular topics. There is also a further subgroup made up of accountants and tax practitioners, which is looking at improving the relationship between practitioners and HM Revenue & Customs, with the aim of making the tax system easier to operate for both sides.
Meetings
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Date |
Agenda |
Minutes |
|---|---|---|
1 December |
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2 September |
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1 June |
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4 March |
Date |
Agenda |
Minutes |
|---|---|---|
1 December |
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3 September |
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2 June |
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25 February |
Comments
If you have any comments or questions regarding the Business Tax Forum, then please send them to Jonathan Bates.
