Does it pay more to be on disability benefits than in work? Some discussion on this topic today. A short thread with some thoughts

NEW: Our new and improved ‘Be the Chancellor’ tool, by IFS researchers in partnership with Nesta, illustrates the key choices and challenges ahead of the Spending Review. Here’s why the Spending Review won’t be the end of the difficult choices facing the Chancellor: [🧵]

Expanding winter fuel payment eligibility – what are the government's options? New comment from Tom Waters ifs.org.uk/articles/expan…

Some of our country's brightest minds have been arguing about whether Walkers’ Sensations Poppadoms are enough like potato crisps to be subject to Value Added Tax That the design of our tax system makes this an argument worth having is outrageous. on.ft.com/4myxG6o

The government has today published a long-awaited consultation on reform of the local government funding system in England - the first in at least 13 years. Read the immediate response from Kate Ogden here: ifs.org.uk/articles/immed…

Reading the coverage of the Fair Funding Review 2 consultation and I think a few newspapers are somewhat misrepresenting it The plans do not involve reforming council tax or directly change council tax bills in the South (or North). But they could impact council tax... A 🧵

Frankly outrageous from the govt. This new, and I think unprecedented, ban on civil servants speaking in public will damage public debate, politics, policy making and the civil service itself. What are they thinking? instituteforgovernment.org.uk/comment/govern…

NEW: Changes to health-related benefit reforms would reduce saving from the planned bill by £3 billion in 2029–30, but would create a huge difference in support between claimants. Read Tom Waters, Eduin Latimer and Matthew Oulton’s new briefing here: ifs.org.uk/articles/chang…

I quite often get asked what I think about a wealth tax. A very good "elevator summary" of the economics of a wealth tax, from the indefatigable Stuart Adam, out today

NEW: Rachel Reeves needs a plan for a better tax system, not a half-baked dash for revenue. 📗 Stuart Adam, Isaac Delestre and Helen Miller’s new IFS Green Budget chapter examines the Chancellor’s options for tax increases: ifs.org.uk/publications/o…

There will be lots of speculation about tax over the next 6 weeks, for better or worse. This chapter is a plea for the government to think about how to make the system work better, rather than just raise the taxes which pose fewest short-term political hurdles. Some highlights:

NEW PODCAST: How to fix income tax Helen Miller, Stuart Adam and Ben Zaranko explore all things income taxes in the first episode of our new mini-series on how to fix the UK's tax system. 🎧 Listen to the episode here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how-f…

Our next CIOT/Institute for Fiscal Studies debate: Reforming the taxation of housing – what changes should the Chancellor choose? Thur 6 Nov, 18.30, 10-11 CHT Stuart Adam Caroline Fleet Prof John Muellbauer Heather Stewart (Grdn) Nichola Ross Martin (CIOT) Info/register: tax.org.uk/ciot-and-ifs-d…

IFS Zooms In Live: How could the Chancellor raise more tax? Tues 4 November | 6:30pm – 8pm | British Library Knowledge Centre 🎤 Join our special in-person recording of our podcast with Helen Miller, Dan Neidle and Stuart Adam. Sign up here: ifs.org.uk/events/ifs-zoo…

NEW PODCAST: How to fix wealth taxes Helen Miller, Stuart Adam and @benzaranko unpack how the UK taxes savings, capital gains and wealth, and ask what a fair, efficient system should look like, in our new IFS Zooms In episode. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how-f…

Join our CIOT/IFS debate on reforming the taxation of housing with Stuart Adam, Caroline Fleet, John Muellbauer, Heather Stewart & Nichola Ross Martin. Thurs 6 November | 18:30 – 20:00 | 10-11 Carlton House Terrace, London & online 📅 Sign up here: ifs.org.uk/events/ciotifs…

NEW PODCAST: How to fix property taxes Helen Miller, Stuart Adam and @benzarako explore how council tax, stamp duty and other property taxes work in the UK, what’s gone wrong, and how they could be made fairer and more efficient. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how-f…

NEW PODCAST: How to fix VAT Why is chocolate-covered shortbread taxed differently from plain? In the final episode of our tax mini-series, we unpack what makes the UK’s VAT system so complex, inefficient and unfair. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how-f…

NEW: How could the Chancellor raise more tax? In our live podcast event Helen Miller was joined by Stuart Adam and Dan Neidle to explore the choices facing the Rachel Reeves ahead of the upcoming budget. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how-c…

NEW PODCAST: Tax changes in the Budget Our new IFS Zooms In episode sees Helen Miller, @benzaranko and Stuart Adam examine on the tax changes buried in the detail of last week's Budget, from electric vehicles to tourist tax. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/tax-c…