Chancellor orders review of capital gains tax to plug £300bn hole in UK finances
15 July 2020, 07:29
The Chancellor Rishi Sunak has commissioned a review of capital gains tax, sparking fears the duty’s historically low rates will be increased to help plug the £300bn hole in public expenditure caused by Covid-19.
The Treasury has asked the Office for Tax Simplification (OTS) to review how capital gains tax (CGT) - a tax applied on profits on homes and other assets - is currently applied.
In a letter to the body, Chancellor Rishi Sunak asked for advice on "opportunities to simplify" the charge and make it "fit for purpose".
The move comes after the budget watchdog said the measures the Treasury brought in to help control the impact of the virus would result in an "unprecedented peacetime rise in borrowing" this year, escalating to between 13 per cent and 21 per cent of GDP and reaching up to £322 billion.
The Office for Budget Responsibility said Government also warned that the UK economy might not recover from the pandemic until 2024.
Mr Sunak said last week that he was prepared to take difficult decisions after spending £188 billion on tackling the virus and mitigating its economic damage since March.
Listen & subscribe: Global Player | Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify
But Treasury sources suggested there was no truth the review would be used to raise taxes and pin the borrowing bill on the wealthy.
A Treasury spokeswoman said: "It is standard practice to keep taxes under review.
"Over the last few years the OTS has reviewed most of the major tax regimes apart from CGT, and a review of CGT will now complete its review of all the major taxes."
Government announces £1.57bn support package for the arts
As well as the battle over the spiralling costs of the Covid-19 crisis the Government is also facing backlash over the decision to make the wearing of face coverings compulsory in shops from July 24.
Senior police officers said they were taken by surprise by the announcement and would be unable to enforce the policy, with shoppers facing a £100 fine if they refuse to comply.
The chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation said the rules would be "nigh on" impossible to enforce due to the numbers of police officers available.
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said shopkeepers and managers should be responsible for customer compliance with the law when inside their premises.
NPCC chairman Martin Hewitt added senior officers were "unaware that the announcement was to be made" but had time to work on the measures before they come into effect.
Rishi Sunak denies re-introduction of hospital parking charges
In the Commons on Tuesday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock told MPs face coverings would help give people "more confidence to shop safely" and help protect staff.
A Daily Telegraph report claiming ministers were considering extending the policy on face masks to offices and other workplaces was downplayed by Government sources.
Rishi Sunak announces new bounce back loans for businesses
It followed special measures taken by Blackburn with Darwen Council, including telling people to wear face coverings in all enclosed public spaces, in a bid to prevent a local lockdown having to be put in place.
Figures published on Tuesday showed Blackburn had 47 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to July 11, up from 31.6 cases per 100,000 in the seven days to July 4.
The authority is third on the list of highest weekly rates, behind Leicester, which has a rate of 118.2 cases per 100,000 and is subject to a local lockdown, while nearby Pendle has a rate of 76.6.
Blackburn public health director Dominic Harrison has told residents to wear cloth face coverings in all enclosed public spaces, including workplaces, libraries, museums, health centres and hair and beauty salons.
Other restrictions include a limit of two people from the same household allowed to visit another home.
Mr Harrison said if rates continued to rise the council would consider reimposing some lockdown restrictions.
The decision to make face coverings mandatory in England's shops, with exemptions for children under 11 and people with certain disabilities and breathing conditions, provoked fury in parts of the Conservative Party.
On social media, some grassroots members posted pictures of their cut-up membership cards, while in the Commons former minister Sir Desmond Swayne labelled the measure a "monstrous imposition against myself and a number of outraged and reluctant constituents".
In Scotland, hotels can start trading again from Wednesday as the country eases out of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, with cafes, bars, cinemas, libraries and restaurants also able to reopen their indoor areas.
Barbers and hair salons can also reopen from Wednesday with enhanced hygiene measures in place.
Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon urged people to adhere to guidelines in place such as providing contact details to assist with tracing where necessary to help prevent a resurgence of the virus.
