Entrepreneur Julie Deane OBE has called on government to examine in detail taxation issues facing the self-employed, “given the scale of concern” Deane encountered about the subject in compiling her just-released report, ‘Self-Employment Review’.

The report, released yesterday (14 February), also calls on government to reduce red tape for small businesses by calculating the impact new legislation, regulations and policies will have on self-employment.

The mention of taxation warrants only two paragraphs in the 41-page document, with Deane noting taxation was outside the remit of the review. However, she points out, “taxation was repeatedly raised by all of those interviewed – as an administrative burden, a barrier to growth, and an issue that could benefit from improved simplicity and better advice. Given the scale of concern I recommend that government looks at this in more detail”. 

The self-employed will face greater taxation burdens from April, when measures contained in the Finance Act 2015 will, among other points, more tightly restrict tax relief around travel & subsistence expenses.  

Responding to the taxation reference, Julia Kermode, chief executive of umbrella, accountancy and payroll service provider trade association FCSA, told Recruiter: “We welcome any moves to simplify tax for the self-employed, and we’re pleased that Julie Deane’s report reaches the same conclusion – despite tax being beyond the original remit of her task."

Elsewhere in the Deane review, 65% of respondents to an online survey conducted for the report identified removing red tape as the main step government could take to make working for themselves easier. Another 39% listed red tape as the top priority to be addressed, according to the report.

It did not say how many people responded to the survey.

• Want to comment on this story? The Comment box is at the bottom of the page. Sorry for the glitch but just scroll right down and share your opinions!