The chancellor wants to stop people setting themselves up as companies to offer their services on a self-employed basis when they would otherwise be employees. This measure has provoked a storm of protest from consultants, particularly in IT, who say their income will be dramatically reduced for no good reason. Many have said they will leave the country, and there have been claims that thousands of small firms will be forced out of business. The chancellor may announce changes to improve the scheme, which critics say was never put through a proper process of consultation. Working Families Tax Credit paid directly into pay packets of claimants.
Capital gains tax taper relief for businesses.
To encourage enterprise, the chancellor is reducing the period required to accrue maximum relief from 10 years to five years. Stamp duty anti-avoidance measures. The chancellor said in his pre-Budget report he would be taking steps in the Budget to counter avoidance. 10 discount for submitting self-assessment tax returns online. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Links to other Budget2000 stories are at the foot of the page.