In short:
If you just want to get up to speed quickly on Phase 1, follow these five links:
- Summary of media briefing: Other tax options looked at but not ‘big ticket’ items (12 Feb, Guernsey Press)
- Questions raised: Corporate tax reform before any GST moves – former Treasury minister (2 Mar, Guernsey Press)
- P&R response: ‘We are still listening’ – P&R (16 Feb, Guernsey Press)
- Reaction from Deputies: Overwhelming political resistance to GST idea (7 Mar, Guernsey Press)
- Delay: P&R may consider delay on tax debate (9 Mar, Guernsey Press)
In detail:
Introduction
The States debated a Tax Review green paper – which included GST – in October 2021. The debate was split over two States meetings and just before the second half of the debate, P&R amended its original propositions to include engaging further with the community and investigating more options for raising revenue before returning with more detailed proposals in July 2022.
In preparation for that July debate, P&R held a media conference in February 2022 to announce three options for a new tax system, created a section on the gov.gg website to give further information and held a series of drop-ins. A potential delay to the debate was mooted and proved to be correct.
The Tax Review – Phase 1 was led by members of the Policy & Resources Committee and the Committee for Employment & Social Security, who formed the Tax Review Steering Group.
P&R forecast that the gap between the revenues received from taxation and the cost of the services and infrastructure would be £85m per year by 2040.
Options
P&R proposed three options to fill the gap in Guernsey’s finances:
1. Income-based health tax at 3%. More progressive Social Security system used to raise more money.
2. GST going up to 8% with mitigation measures to protect low-income households. Increase in personal allowances. More progressive Social Security system without raising more money.
3. GST going up to 5% with smaller mitigation measures to protect low-income households. Smaller increase in personal allowances. More progressive Social Security system used to raise more money.
Each of the three options included the assumption that £10m in additional revenue will be raised through changes to the corporate tax system.
OurFuture.gg website
All the government information about the Tax Review – Phase 1 was on the OurFuture.gg website, but this has now been superceded by the new proposals in Phase 2.
Note: the original Tax Review webpages that were available at launch in 2021 are still live here.
Peter Rose’s letter
Peter Rose’s letter: ‘Usable reserves’ mean no need for tax hikes (4 Mar, Guernsey Press letters)
Deputy Heidi Soulsby’s response: ‘We do have real challenges which we must face up to’ (22 Mar, Guernsey Press opinion)
Other media articles/podcasts
Comment: A binary choice – but what’s the question? (24 Jan, Guernsey Press)
P&R wants to win public support for GST ahead of summer debate (7 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Podcast: Is GST really the answer? Guest: Deputy Charles Parkinson (9 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
“Middle income earners would bear the full brunt of GST” (10 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Comment: Population – the missing tax option? (11 Feb, Guernsey Press)
Other tax options looked at but not ‘big ticket’ items (12 Feb, Guernsey Press analysis of briefing)
What would you cut? P&R asks committees (14 Feb, Guernsey Press)
‘We are still listening’ – P&R (16 Feb, Guernsey Press, announces Corp Tax report)
Opposition across the States to P&R’s latest GST plan (18 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Further work on company tax as more deputies reject GST (18 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Dep. Helyar says Dep. Parkinson’s company tax ideas are “snake oil” (18 Feb, Bailiwick Express)
Opinion: A matter of timing. Deputies Inder/Vermeulen/Moakes opinion piece (22 Feb, Guernsey Press)
Deputies stand up for small business over GST (22 Feb, Guernsey Press)
Comment: Case is made to turn more stones over tax (22 Feb, Guernsey Press)
Comment: Tax review doesn’t need shroud-waving (23 Feb, Guernsey Press)
‘Deputies must work together on important issues like tax’ (24 Feb, Guernsey Press)
‘Even Donald Trump more realistic when it comes to taxation’ (26 Feb, Guernsey Press)
Corporate tax reform before any GST moves – former Treasury minister (2 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Companies are not problem, says one tax expert (4 Mar, IFC)
Overwhelming political resistance to GST idea (7 Mar, Guernsey Press)
P&R may consider delay on tax debate (9 Mar, Guernsey Press)
GST worries top the agenda again at tax review roadshow (14 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Opinion: Someone else can pay – Deputy Mark Helyar (21 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Opinion: What little difference a decade makes – Andy Sloan (30 Mar, Guernsey Press)
Opinion: Why Guernsey needs to reform its company tax system – Deputy Charles Parkinson (4 Apr, Bailiwick Express)
‘Way could be found to tax businesses more’ (13 Apr, Guernsey Press)
States goes online to engage on tax review (27 Apr, Guernsey Press) – includes ‘Tax debate ‘not this summer, but by the end of the year”.
