The newly reconstituted Northern Ireland Tax Committee, which is a sub committee of the Institute, has been set up with a remit to review and consider issues which will be of relevance to Institute members dealing with UK tax. There are many and varied UK tax issues which impact upon members of the Institute and their clients and the committee will aim to review these issues to ensure that members of the Institute are not only fully briefed but have an opportunity to input into, and comment on, changes to UK tax legislation and the working practices of HM Revenue & Customs.

At present, there are many UK tax issues which will have a direct impact on Institute members which include:

A. Pre-submission approval

This is a proposal from HM Revenue & Customs to audit the Institute's file review process so as to determine whether a practitioner has the necessary systems in place to enable appropriate tax submission to HMRC. Members of Institutes who receive HMRC approval will then be subject to a “lighter touch” from the HMRC in relation to submissions they make.

B. Northern Ireland Tax incentives

The committee will aim to actively lobby Government for the introduction of a special corporation tax rate within Northern Ireland. At the same time, it will also seek to participate in the review of Northern Ireland Taxation to be carried out by Sir David Varney and make appropriate submissions to this review.

C. Operational issues in relation to HM Revenue & Customs

The committee will also look at the issues which affect the day to day interaction of members with HM Revenue & Customs. Where this involves issues of HMRC policy or practice, the committee will aim to make the necessary submissions to the appropriate authority with a view to either a change in legislation or a change in practice.

The members of the Northern Ireland Tax Committee are:

Eamonn Donaghy, KPMG (Chairman)

Paddy Hary, FPM Newry

Aeveen Daly, Cavanagh Kelly

Lynn Hagan, Goldblatt McGuigan

David Nelson, KPMG

Nigel Thompson, Moore Stephens

Glenn Roberts, Deloitte

The permanent secretary of the committee is Brian Keegan who is the Director of Tax at the Institute

I would encourage members of the Institute to use the offices of the committee as a means of facilitating change in tax legislation and/or Revenue practice. In return, the committee will aim to provide a voice for members to facilitate such change and to ensure the appropriate dissemination of information on such matters to members.

– By Eamonn Donaghy, Chairman – Northern Ireland Tax committee