Scottish tax practitioners have long observed the complexities of the Scottish tax system but the most recent annual poll carried out on behalf of the Chartered Institute of Taxation confirms that view. Members of the public seem to be increasingly confused about who sets tax rates and allowances as well as the different responsibilities of Holyrood and Westminster. As we approach the next Westminster budget, that must be a concern for all involved.
It also supports the calls for better (or any?) financial/tax education to be provided in schools to better prepare our children for the world of work.
The 2023 survey found that only one in five (20%) respondents correctly identified that income tax is a shared responsibility of the Scottish and UK parliaments. This is the lowest figure recorded since the survey was first conducted in 2018 (34 per cent) and is a fall of seven points on the 27 per cent recorded when the poll was last undertaken in 2021
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