Content
Leading article...
Anything up his sleeve?
General tax...
Relaxed association
File under 'e'
Research costs?
Give early
A tax on houses
Pension changes
Holiday entitlement
EISy money
VAT...
20:20 vision
Horses for courses?
Do it yourself
That's entertainment
All in the contract?
Where am I?
Law items...
What's in a title?
The privileged few
Called to account
Don't mince words
| George Osborne has changed a few things since he became Chancellor. One of the more welcome is setting the date of the Spring Budget months in advance. It didn't inspire confidence in Mr Brown or Mr Darling that they never seemed sure when they would be ready to make their key annual statement about tax and finance. Wednesday 23 March was fixed in November, at least two months earlier than in recent years. Years ago, no-one knew what the Chancellor would do in a Budget speech, from the little things – how much on beer and cigarettes – to the big economic policies. It's a good thing that there are fewer surprises now. We were told most of the tax rates and allowances for the next tax year in December, and we know about quite a few of the proposed rule changes because they've been published for public comment. Some of the coalition government's plans have been set out for several years ahead. With luck, that makes for better laws, and it means there's less reason for rushed decisions either before or after the Budget. We can see what's coming, so we can plan for it. But it does reduce the drama, the sense of occasion. Mr Darling seemed to revel in the image of 'steady and boring' – we have yet to see whether Mr Osborne will want to create more of a stir. If he does, will he be austere in the face of the deficit, or will he find something to cheer us up? Government borrowing is still a long way from being under control, but there's talk of easing some of the cutbacks to help the economy or promote Mr Cameron's Big Society idea. Whatever the Chancellor pulls out of his hat – or his red box – we will be here to help.  |