Payment of 2019 tax liability regulations scrutinised
22nd March 2021
Changes to the proposed income tax regulations have been recommended by the Corporate
Services Scrutiny Panel (CSSP) in their latest report, which sought to understand the impact of 2019 liability payment
terms on taxpayers and public finances
following the decision to move all Prior Year Basis personal taxpayers onto a
Current Year Basis from 2020.
A key failing of the
regulations is the lack of recognition that the 2019 liability imposes added
pressure and concern amongst couples who are seeking divorce or civil
partnership dissolution. The husband or ‘Spouse A’ would be left liable for the
payment of 2019 liability following a divorce or dissolution and it remains
unclear as to how this will be split when independent taxation is brought into
force or if a couple divorce before it is implemented.
The Panel’s report also found
that the proposed regulations for deferred 2019 liability have been
significantly revised since October last year. Whilst the extended period of
payment liability over 20 years makes payment more manageable for taxpayers, it
will have a significant impact on the management of Government expenditure and
increases the risk that some of the due amount will not be recoverable.
Alongside several
recommendations, the Panel will propose two amendments to the Minister for
Treasury and Resources’ regulations, which will be brought to the States
Assembly for approval during this week’s States Meeting, starting tomorrow, Tuesday,
23 March. The first amendment asks that 2019 liability collections
are reviewed in 10 years and the second amendment seeks to adjust part of the regulations
which do not recognise that a taxpayer unable to pay the 2019 liability twelve
months after reaching pensionable age, may have already made payments towards
the liability.
Senator Kristina Moore,
Chair of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, said “Whilst the revised
proposals address many of the concerns expressed by taxpayers in focus groups, there
are many ways the regulations could be clarified to assist taxpayers. The Panel has significant
concerns about the manpower and systems in place to support delivery and Revenue
Jersey has not adequately budgeted for the cost of implementing these changes. We urge the Minister for Treasury and
Resources to reflect on our recommendations and incorporate our amendments into
the regulations as soon as is feasible.”
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