Amidst Brexit-related uncertainty and attendant political
turmoil on the one hand, and wider proposals to re-write the
principles of international taxation – in particular as they
apply to the "digital economy" and multinational
businesses – on the other, UK tax policy has followed a
somewhat tentative path in 2019. It has been a case of not wanting
to rock the boat too much, whilst being seen to be keeping up with
the competition.
Unusually, there has been no Budget in 2019 – the 2019
Budget had been expected to take place on 6 November 2019, but this
was expressed to be conditional on the UK leaving the EU on 31
October 2019, with a deal. Thus, following Parliament's vote on
19 October 2019 to delay any approval of a Brexit deal until
detailed withdrawal legislation is passed (resulting in the
extension of the Brexit deadline until 31 January 2020), the
Chancellor of the Exchequer cancelled the proposed Budget.
