Tax reform for the 21st century

THE Tax and Revenue Committee will hear from tax policy advisor Richard Highfield at the next public hearing for the inquiry into taxpayer engagement with Australia’s taxation system.

Committee chair Kevin Hogan MP said that tomorrow’s meeting will provide an opportunity to grapple with some of the more complex issues in the tax engagement debate with a former ATO Second Commissioner.

Mr Hogan said that Mr Highfield, now an adjunct professor with the School of Taxation and Business at the University of New South Wales, has extensive experience in tax policy design, development and administration.

Over the course of two decades, the professor held key advisory roles with the OECD, the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund. He is currently a member of expert advisory panels to the ATO and the NSW Office of State Revenue on tax gap research programs.

“The committee looks forward to receiving expert guidance from one of Australia’s senior tax advisors,” Mr Hogan said.

“Taxation law is complex and regulators must be careful that reforms do not have unintended consequences; even opening up loop holes for criminal activity. At the other end of the scale, how do we promote the message that paying your taxes is worthwhile, both for your business and the community?”

Public hearing details: 4:15pm – 5.30pm, Wednesday 14 June 2017, Committee Room 2R1 Parliament House, Canberra

The hearing will be broadcast live at aph.gov.au/live

Interested members of the public may wish to track the committee via the website. 

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