The current tax system is damaging to small businesses and must be simplified if they are to be successful, it has been claimed.
Frank Haskew, head of the
Tax Faculty at the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), made the comments as his organisation issued a "wish list" for the forthcoming pre-Budget report.
Contained within this are calls for Alistair Darling to make a firm commitment to the simplification of tax, improve taxpayer service and bolster customer service levels.
"Smaller businesses in particular are struggling with the UK's complicated tax system," said Mr Haskew.
"Combined with having to deal with the burden of regulation, this is particularly affecting SMEs' ability to grow."
In response to the final Budget made by now-prime minister Gordon Brown, ICAEW chief executive Michael Izza warned that the changes represented a "missed opportunity" to tackle the over-complicated tax system.
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