The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) was established in July 2010, to provide advice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer on simplifying the UK tax system. The Financial Secretary to the Treasury has recently written an extensive letter to the OTS regarding the conclusions of the first five-year review and to respond to the OTS reviews into Inheritance Tax (IHT) and Capital Gains Tax (CGT).

The letter confirms that after careful consideration, the government has decided not to make any changes to the IHT lifetime gifts rules at the current time. It was also confirmed that changes to the design and operation of CGT will be kept under review.

The government has accepted the following five recommendations from the OTS report on the technical and administrative issues with CGT:

1. Integrate the different ways of reporting and paying CGT into the Single Customer Account. This is part of a long-term strategy.
2. Extending the reporting and payment deadline for the UK Property return to 60 days. This has been completed.
3. Extending the ‘no gain no loss’ window on separation and divorce. This will be subject to consultation over the course of the next year.
4. Expanding the specific Rollover Relief rules which apply where land and buildings are acquired under Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPO). This will be subject to a final consultation. 
5. Various improvements in CGT guidance on specific areas. HMRC has already completed a review and expansion of the guidance on the UK Property Tax Return and will proceed in other areas identified in the OTS report.

The government will also consider five other recommendations by the OTS including the treatment of separate share pools, the practical operation of Private Residence Relief nominations and a review of the rules for enterprise investment schemes.