A new Common Weal tax paper proposes radical future for Scotland

THINK tank Common Weal has launched a new report as part of its White Paper Project for an independent Scotland, entitled ‘A Scottish Tax System: Imagining the Future’.

Youth wing of the governing party calls for councils to be given powers to raise more of their own money

THE SNP YOUTH have backed a motion at their Spring Conference in Edinburgh calling for a fairer replacement to the current council tax system.

It was passed over the weekend when young members of the party gathered to decide the direction of the youth of the party and hammer out key policy positions which differ from the party proper.

Corporate business lobby top supporter of planned tax cuts for aviation industry 

VESTED INTEREST GROUPS in favour of a £150m tax cut for the airlines industry dominated the latest consultation on the current Air Passenger Duty (APD) proposals.

Scottish budget passed by 68 votes to 57 

THE SNP-GREEN budget has been passed by the Scottish Parliament following a long-running conflict over taxation rates. 

Voted through by 68 votes to 57, the deal confirms the financial plan for the year ahead and sets the Scottish rate of income tax following the extension of taxation powers. 

The financial deal was likely to pass after the Scottish Greens pledged to back the budget after a deal on income tax thresholds with the SNP minority government. 

Rates cap follows concerns from business community on taxation 

BUSINESS RATES INCREASES will be capped and specific support will be provided to important parts of the economy, in an change in tax policy announced by finance minister Derek Mackay. 

The first revaluation of non-domestic rates, a devolved property based tax, since 2010 had led to various winners and loser, leading to an outcry for greater intervention in the rules on subsidies. 

Industry and Scottish politicians blast Tory Government for betrayal over low priority memo

THE UK GOVERNMENT has come under fire for ranking industries including steel, construction, oil and gas, telecoms, environmental services, water and medical sectors as “low priority”.

Nicola Sturgeon claims tax cut will help flying families 

BUDGET BEDFELLOWS THE SNP and the Scottish Greens have set aside their recent financial deal in a dispute over the future of Air Passenger Duty (APD) during First Ministers Questions (FMQ’s) in the Scottish Parliament today (9 February). 

Scottish Greens co-convener Patrick Harvie said there was no credible evidence for the benefits of a proposed tax cut, and called on the Scottish Government to drop its 2018 plans for a 50 per cent APD cut. 

Greens defend income tax threshold deal as part of SNP budget 

THE SCOTTISH BUDGET DEAL for the year ahead will include a freeze on the threshold for paying the higher rate of income tax after lengthy talks between the Scottish Greens and the SNP. 

The threshold - the level of £40,000 above which taxpayer contribute 40 per cent income tax - was due to rise in line with inflation, where is predicted to be higher than expected following the Brexit vote.