Women in Tax Annual Debate: How do taxes impact behaviour?

Taxation is the government’s main tool for raising revenue to pay for public services, but it can also have a secondary purpose: influencing taxpayer behaviour.

This impact on behaviour is sometimes the stated intention behind tax policy, as was the case in the context of the Soft Drinks Industry Levy, which was introduced to nudge consumers to opt for low-sugar alternatives to regular fizzy drinks. Taxes may have another primary purpose, but it is clear that they will also influence consumer behaviour indirectly, as is the case with green taxes that are aimed at companies but that may ultimately be felt by consumers in e.g. the rising price of energy. In other cases, this impact on behaviour may be less obvious or even unintended, as we saw in the context of the recent debate surrounding the introduction of VAT on private school fees.

But is it right to use taxation in this way? Are taxes actually effective in shaping taxpayer behaviour, or are there better ways to achieve the same aims? Is there more that could be done in terms of imposing taxes to achieve positive social outcomes? Does tax policy need to flex over the lifecycle of achieving behavioural change and a new status quo e.g. particularly where subsidies and tax breaks are provided as an incentive?

Join us to debate all of this and more with our esteemed panellists chaired by Tasneem Kadiri, Chair of Women in Tax, UK & Ireland Tax Director at L’Oréal. Our panellists are TBC – watch this space!

This year’s annual debate is hosted by Simmons & Simmons, an international law firm. Website: https://www.simmons-simmons.com/en/expertise/service/tax

Host or Publisher Women in Tax