In 2025 UK corporation tax celebrates its 60th birthday. Despite many predictions that revenues would be eroded, corporation tax is forecast to raise record amounts in coming years.
The Labour government, like the governments that went before, want to make the UK the best place to invest and do business. They have made economic growth the number one mission. Does the new Corporate Tax Roadmap, with its emphasis on stability and certainty, provide the blueprint for a dynamic business environment? What can be learnt from the many past policy changes about how to make corporation tax fit for the future? How should the UK engage with international efforts to change the taxation of multinational companies? What are the challenges for small businesses? How can HMRC reduce uncertainty and rebuild trust with taxpayer? How should the broader set of taxes that impact businesses – including business rates – be reformed over this parliament?
These are among the issues that will be discussed at the 2025 IFS residential conference, which is hosted in association with Deloitte.
The IFS Residential Conference is held biennially and brings together tax practitioners, academics, policymakers and people from business and the third sector to discuss an area of the tax system from a variety of angles. Since the first event in 1983 the conference has been used to debate the likely and desirable direction of tax policy and administration. We provide a space where tax professionals step away from their day jobs and help tackle important tax design questions.
Programme
Keynote speakers
James Murray MP, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury
Helen Miller, IFS
After-dinner speaker
David Gauke, Macfarlanes
Panel sessions
Lessons from 60 years of corporation tax
What principles should underpin corporation tax? How and why has corporation tax policy changed? What has been the best vintage of UK corporation tax? What are the ongoing policy challenges?
Chair: Paul Johnson, IFS
Malcolm Gammie, One Essex Court
Helen Miller, IFS
Tim Power, HM Treasury
Chris Sanger, EY
Business investment and the tax base
Is tax holding UK businesses back from making the investments needed for growth? What is the role of tax reliefs? Have reliefs for R&D and the creative industries been a success? Is the impact of reliefs diluted by uncertainty?
Chair: Heather Self, Blick Rothenberg
İrem Güçeri, University of Oxford
Ali Kennedy, CBI Tax Committee
Jon Sherman, HMRC
Ele Theochari, Blick Rothenberg
The challenges for administering corporation tax
Is cooperative compliance working? Should making tax digital be applied to corporation tax? Is a different approach needed for large and small business? How can the small business tax gap be closed? What are the lessons from the past and from other countries?
Chair: Judith Freedman, University of Oxford
Paul Aplin, CIOT
Lydia Challen, A&O Shearman
James Konya, HMRC
Saibh Young, Lloyds Banking Group
Where next for corporation tax given the international context?
How can the UK remain competitive on a rapidly changing international stage? What should the UK’s aim be in international tax discussions? What next for the digital services tax and the multinational top-up tax? What principles should underpin the allocation of taxing rights? Is it time to consider a move to ‘destination-based’ taxation?
Chair: Helen Miller, IFS
Michael Devereux, University of Oxford
Dominic Foulkes, David Polk & Wardwell
David Murray, Anglo-American
Richard Thomas, HMRC
Amanda Tickel, Deloitte
Breakout sessions
The conference will also include small group discussions on topics including:
Should business rates be replaced with a land value tax?
Small business issues
Are creative industries reliefs a success?
The policy making process
How can government provide taxpayers with more certainty?
Cooperative compliance
The use of software in the tax system
What should the UK’s key priorities be to remain competitive?
Key Information
The conference will take place at St Anne's College, Oxford, from lunchtime on Thursday 3 April to late afternoon on Friday 4 April. A conference dinner and accommodation will be provided on Thursday night.
Full price ticket: £600 + VAT
Academic & charity rate: £375 + VAT
Corporate members of the Institute for Fiscal Studies receive one free place at this conference (gold members receive two free places). To book your free place or to find out more about membership, please email @email.
Included in your delegate fee: Ensuite accommodation at St Anne's College is provided on Thursday 3 April and delegates are invited to attend a drinks reception and formal conference dinner on that evening, as well as buffet lunches on both days.
Day delegate rates: Please contact us if are interested in attending as a day delegate and do not require accommodation. In addition, we have a limited number of free day delegate places available for students. Please fill out this form to request a free student place.
This event is held in association with Deloitte, and supported by Tax Journal.
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