Business leaders back income tax simplification

A plan to merge National Insurance (NI) with income tax would increase wages, create jobs and help reduce costs, business leaders have said.

The Sunday Telegraph reports an Institute of Directors poll found 79% of the 1,125 bosses surveyed are in favour of merging pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) tax with NI to reduce administrative burdens and penalties for mistakes. A Taxpayers' Alliance report, set to be published along side the survey, said NI was paid by workers, not companies through lower wages or higher unemployment. It said the current system "chokes economic growth and destroys jobs". The paper said the coalition is likely to use the Autumn Statement to issue a consultation on simplifying the tax system by next year's...