Call For Taxation Advisory Boards
Illawarra Mercury
Friday March 13, 1998
The Taxation Institute of Australia has called on the Federal Government to improve tax law administration by developing tax advisory review boards.
TIA spokeswoman Annamaria Carey said setting up a formal system of review would introduce more certainty and consistency into tax administration and policy, and would ultimately benefit Australian taxpayers.
The TIA proposed setting up two separate bodies, the Taxation Administration Review Board and the Taxation Policy Review Board, to refine the administration of tax law and to ensure broad policy implications of existing and proposed laws were considered, she said.
One of the boards would consist of private sector representatives such as lawyers and accountants, small and business representatives and senior staff from government departments, she said.
"The establishment of such a board would hopefully result in legislation that is better drafted, better reflects government policy and which will not result in disproportionate compliance costs for Australian business," she said.
Both boards would be chaired ultimately by a senior government minister rather than the taxation commissioner, she said. The TIA is a tax industry lobby group.
© 1998 Illawarra Mercury