Read the report here
It’s been an eventful few years in British politics but 2019 has taken things to a new level with one shock development after another.
The Brexit deadline of 29 March was extended, first to 31 October, then again to 31 January 2020. Boris Johnson replaced Theresa May as Prime Minister and Sajid Javid succeeded Philip Hammond as Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Javid was poised to deliver his first Budget on 06 November against a backdrop of constitutional crisis but, in late October, it was cancelled as Parliament voted in favour of holding the first December general election since 1923.
With all eyes on Brexit, those with an interest in fiscal policy were left bewildered: could this be the first year without any Budget at all? After all, the Spring Statement became a non-event on Hammond’s watch.
And, although we know there will be a budget at some point, when it will happen is another matter, leading to even more questions and potential changes to existing proposals.
Will changes, passed into law in the Finance Act 2019 and set to commence in April 2020, actually happen when the new tax year gets under way?
The VAT reverse charge for construction services has already been delayed, just a few weeks before the original deadline. That's now set to take effect from 01 October 2020.
Off-payroll rules rolled out in the public sector in 2017 are due to hit the private sector in 2020 – could that also be delayed? The calls are certainly getting louder.
In this special report, we’ve combined what we do know with some informed analysis to try and provide some answers. It seems, however, that the current roller coaster ride won’t stop with the General Election on 12 December.