Reports
We write reports in order to shine a light on areas of tax law and practice which impact upon people on low incomes. We generally make recommendations and try and get them implemented. We have written reports to help pensioners, disabled people, students, volunteers and low income workers and you will find them below:
- Digital Exclusion - a LITRG report The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) published a new report today highlighting the growing problem of ‘digital exclusion’. It provides new evidence that government efforts to move services and transactions online are disadvantaging older people, those with disabilities and the self-employed in particular. 9 May 2012
- Bereavement and the Tax System - a LITRG report The lives of bereaved people could be made a great deal easier if the different government agencies involved when someone dies were to share information and join up the services they offer, a new report from LITRG concludes. 25 November 2009
- Bureaucracy, expenses and the low-income volunteer In its latest report, LITRG shows how inconsistent is the tax and benefits treatment of volunteers’ expenses, and makes recommendations for a simple and coherent approach across Government. 1 May 2009
- Independent living, direct payments and the tax system Government tax rules are hindering good government intentions to help vulnerable and disabled people live independently within the community. A new report from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group finds that more help and joined-up government are needed if the move towards direct payments and individual budgets is to be effective as it could be. 31 January 2008
- Interact: benefits, tax credits and moving into work This report by Community Links, Low Incomes Tax Reform Group and Child Poverty Action Group follows a technical and qualitative study of the tax, tax credit and social security systems and barriers to employment. Our research included interviews with a number of individuals in receipt of tax credits and social security benefits in, out of and contemplating work. 8 January 2008
- Older people on low incomes -The case for tax reform For too long pensioners on low incomes have been a low priority in the tax world of HMRC. The merger of the old Inland Revenue and Customs & Excise has focused on business tax to the detriment of the low-income pensioner. LITRG’s latest report ‘Older people on low incomes: the case for tax reform’, published on 30 May 2007, explains the tax problems of becoming a pensioner, suffering bereavement or going into care. It also highlights key areas where HMRC make mistakes, and outlines reforms. 30 May 2007
- VAT and disabled people - the case for removing the barriers A comprehensive report by the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) is calling for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to review the VAT reliefs given to disabled people. The report also focuses on the need for better administration of the reliefs to make them easier to obtain, and a re-think on VAT that is payable on products not ‘solely designed’ for disabled people. 30 January 2007
- Tax Appeals - a low income perspective LITRG have participated in the consultations about tribunals reform which followed the recent White Paper. In a series of contributions, we have considered specific aspects of the proposals for reforming the tax appeal tribunals from the perspective of a user on a low to modest income, who is probably unrepresented. In our report Tax Appeals - a low income perspective, we look at the reform from the aspect of these appellants and make recommendations designed to remove the barriers they face. 21 September 2006
- Disability in Tax and Related Benefits: The Case for a Modern and Coherent Approach The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) has published a report entitled 'Disability in Tax and Related Benefits: The Case for a Modern and Coherent Approach' on how the system of tax and tax related benefits impacts on people with disabilities. The LITRG's objective is to understand how and why there is no coherent and consistent 'joined-up' approach; to encourage discussion on how best to close this 'policy gap'; and to help policy makers identify key issues for decision and implementation. 15 January 2004
- Tax help for older people Pilot projects in the South West and West Midlands, April 2001 to March 2002 14 January 2004
- Students, the case for making life easier This report published in January 2001 looks at the problems that students face with the current tax system and recommends a set of measures geared towards treating students as a separate category of customer within the Inland Revenue. 13 January 2004
- Representing the unrepresented This Report published in January 2001 which gives an account of the LITRG's activities since the publication of 'The Taxman's Response' in July 1999 and its aims for the next few years. 12 January 2004
- Older people on low incomes - The Taxman's Response This follow up report in July 1999 looks at the actions taken by the Government and Inland Revenue in the light of our recommendations in our earlier report. 11 January 2004
- Older people on low incomes - Case for a friendlier tax system This report analyses the position as at December 1998 and made over 30 recommendations for change. 10 January 2004
