Background
On 29 May 2002, the Board of Taxation Chairman, Dick Warburton welcomed the invitation from the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer , Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, to gather and present to her by 19 July 2002 the views of business, taxpayers, the tax advising professions and the community on the proposals raised in the Government’s Consultation Paper on the Inspector-General of Taxation in the Taxation System. Senator Coonan also asked the Board to make recommendations to her on the proposals in the Consultation Paper.
Consultation
The establishment of the Inspector-General of Taxation (Inspector-General) was a key initiative announced by the Government during the 2001 election campaign.
The purpose of this consultation paper was to present the key elements of the proposal for an Inspector-General and sought public comments on the best ways in which the new Office could operate to improve the fairness, efficiency and integrity of the tax system.
The then Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer Senator the Hon Helen Coonan requested the Board of Taxation gather the views of business, taxpayers, the tax advising professions and the community on the Inspector-General proposals raised in the discussion paper. The Board was asked to consider the views raised and make its own recommendations to the Minister.
Submissions were requested by 25 June 2002 and the Board conducted round table discussions in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra.
Board Report and Government Response
The Board gave its report to Senator Coonan on 19 July 2002. The Board made 15 recommendations in its report to the Minister. On 16 September 2002 the Minister released the Board’s report and announced that the Government has accepted all the Board’s recommendations in principle.
The office of the IGT was formally set up by the Inspector-General of Taxation Act 2003.
For further information about this report please contact the Board of Taxation Secretariat on (02) 6263 4366 or at taxboard@treasury.gov.au. For more information about the office of the Inspector General of Taxation please visit their website.
