Small firm anger over tax system

Forty three per cent of respondents said "fairness" should be the tax system's main priority, "simplicity" polled 20 per cent and 13 per cent said they want to see the tax system reformed to make Britain more competitive internationally. In more general terms, 45 per cent said their tax burden was a "very serious" issue for their firms. "Our members believe that they are bearing an unfair tax burden because of the moderate sizes of their businesses," says FPB spokesman Phil McCabe. "The complexity of the British tax system is not only time-consuming and frustrating; it also puts small firms at an instant disadvantage. Big companies have the expertise and resources to understand the system and minimise their tax burden. For most of our members, hiring an outside tax consultant represents a significant cost, few can afford." The Tax and Budget Member Panel also asked SME owners about the recent Pre-Budget Report (PBR). Respondents were distinctly underwhelmed by the measures announced by the Chancellor, with more than half saying that the PBR undermined both business confidence and future employment. The increase in national insurance contributions proved deeply unpopular, with many FPB members expressing anger at further costs being added to employment. The Forum of Private Business represents thousands of small businesses across the UK, including manufacturing companies, and is recognised by the Government as one of the six main business support and lobby groups