The UK Treasury has appointed a permanent chair and tax director to the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS). Michael Jack and John Whiting take on the respective roles and will oversee the OTS’ operations at least until the end of this parliament.
The OTS was launched by Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne in July last year. It is responsible for identifying unnecessary complications in the tax system and then advising Treasury ministers on how to reform them. Reducing the administrative burden on taxpayers is one of the core objectives of the OTS’ work.
“The Government believes that taxes should be simple to understand and easy to comply with. The work of the OTS is central to achieving this aim,” said Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, David Gauke.
Jack was formerly financial secretary to the Treasury, and Whiting – tax policy director of the Chartered Institute of Taxation – previously worked as a tax partner at PwC.
