How policymakers and tax experts think platform and gig workers should be taxed

THE FREELANCER'S LUNCH

The ‘gig economy’ has grown and risen up the policy agenda in recent years. The associated growth in people working through their own businesses and in work happening through platforms highlights difficult questions about when to have boundaries in the tax system and where to put them, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies.

The self-employed are taxed at lower rates than employees. How should gig economy workers be taxed? When should they be taxed as employees? What is the knock-on effect of their tax status for in-work benefits? Does it matter that employment law and tax law are not aligned?

The Institute for Fiscal Studies had an expert panel bring a range of different perspectives to this topical debate:

• Stuart Adam - Senior Research Economist, Institute for Fiscal Studies
• Bill Dodwell – Tax Director, Office of Tax Simplification
• Meredith McCammond – Technical Officer, Low Incomes Tax Reform Group
• Neil Ross – Head of Policy, techUK
• Chaired by CIOT President, Peter Rayney

You can watch the event here, and download Stuart Adam's slides here.

The opinions expresed in this video and presentation are not those of The Freelance Informer.

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