Since the recession there has been a rapid rise in the number of individuals operating through self-employment or company owner-management. These groups are taxed substantially less heavily than employees despite receiving very similar state benefits. This creates a tax system that is complex, inefficient and unfair. In Budget 2017, the chancellor tried to take a small step towards a better tax system by increasing self-employed NICs. He failed. The best thing we can do now is unite around a long run vision for how we should tax different ways of working and start designing a pathway for getting there.
Authors
Helen Miller
Helen joined the IFS in 2007. She has almost two decades of experience analysing UK fiscal policy and providing trusted advice to policymakers.
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