7. Plaid Cymru Debate: Income tax devolution

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:14 pm on 8 February 2023.

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Photo of Rebecca Evans Rebecca Evans Labour 6:14, 8 February 2023

Yes, so that's set out in legislation and in guidance; we use the same kind of thing for council tax as well. So, obviously, Welsh Government officials and HMRC officials are in constant contact, both in terms of Welsh Treasury and the local government finance officials as well. So, I think that we have a shared understanding as to what a primary home would be. And we see that in effect, if you like, when we look at income tax and the C code. And we had lots of debate when we were introducing the Welsh rates of income tax about how HMRC could ensure that Welsh rates of income tax payers did have that C code attached to their rates of income tax, and we've had very good work done to make sure that we are making sure that as many taxpayers as possible have that code attached to their work. So, we also publish—I think it's annually—a report on the work of HMRC in Wales in relation to those codes as well, and I'd be happy to share more information with colleagues on that, if needed in future.

Turning to the longer term, in any change we will obviously be guided by our tax principles. They commit us to designing clear and stable taxes that deliver our progressive agenda, whereby those who are most able to pay pay more than those who are less able. So, whilst powers to vary income tax thresholds would provide additional policy tools for the Welsh Government, we do need to consider carefully our specific needs and the risks, including the risk of a much greater exposure to relative tax base growth between Wales and elsewhere in the UK, and that would be a particular concern to us in relation to the higher and additional rates, where the Welsh Government is only exposed to 10p in each band.