Description

In this episode, we consider the pain points for businesses in meeting their tax reporting obligations and we explore the causes and implications of tax complexity, including what the UK stands to gain from addressing it.  

 Links 

 ICAEW

• How to fix VAT | ICAEW - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/vat/how-to-fix-vat
• How to build a better tax system | ICAEW - https://www.icaew.com/technical/tax/tax-reform/how-to-build-a-better-tax-system
• Business tax compliance costs £15bn a year | ICAEW - https://www.icaew.com/insights/tax-news/2025/feb-2025/business-tax-compliance-costs-15bn-a-year

External

• Office of Tax Simplification - GOV.UK - https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/office-of-tax-simplification
• Competitiveness review: final report https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5a7d8aafe5274a676d532aca/competitiveness_review_final_report.pdf
• Brunel University Research Archive: Tax complexity: impact on UK competitiveness and growth - https://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/33569

 Host

Stephen Relf, Tax Technical Manager, ICAEW

 Guests

• Professor Peter Jelfs, Brunel University of London
• Andy Richens, formerly of the Office of Tax Simplification

 Producer

Ed Adams

Series lead

Mark Rowland

Episode recorded: 29 July 2026

Episode published: 12 August 2026

All views expressed on this podcast are those of the contributors and don’t necessarily reflect those of ICAEW or its members.