Tax and benefit reforms under Labour

This Election Briefing Note describes the main tax and benefit reforms since 1997, and shows how they have affected total government revenues. It then goes on to discuss the impact of these reforms on the distribution of income between household types, on work incentives and on the incentive to save. A subsequent Election Briefing Note will examine how Labour's reforms have affected the so-called 'couple penalty' that exists in the tax and benefit system.