Fair Tax Pledge

Fair tax is at the heart of a fair society, a strong economy and a functioning democracy. If you’re an individual, sole trader or partnership, sign up to pledge that you’ll do the right thing when it comes to tax.

Tax pays for the vital goods, services and security that we all need, whoever we are and whatever we do. It can help everyone get the chance they deserve in life

Tax provides the essential services and infrastructure businesses need to operate. It ensures a level playing field where competition is about what a company supplies and not about who can cheat the most

Tax helps build trust and legitimacy in our institutions. When people cheat, it demonstrates how the system works for the privileged few rather than representing all of our interests

Unfortunately, in the UK some people are doing all they can to avoid paying their fair share of tax. The effect of this behaviour is already being felt. If it continues, it will cause further enormous damage, both here and in the developing world. Now, for the first time, the fair-minded UK public can make a stand against tax dodging and pledge their commitment to fair tax.

Sign the Fair Tax Pledge today

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Guidance notes

In case you have any doubt about signing this declaration, we add the following information:

1. The first statement of this declaration does nothing more than ask that you make all your tax declarations on time and that you ensure that they are complete in all respects.

What it also implies is that if you are in doubt about the way in which any part of your affairs should be disclosed for tax purposes then you seek independent advice on that issue and if doubt still remains that you, or your accountants or other tax advisers acting on your behalf, agree to disclose that uncertainty to HM Revenue & Customs so that they have the opportunity to decide upon it.

2. The tax havens that we think you should avoid using for tax purposes (but not if you have real commercial interests in an actual trade taking place in those locations) are listed here.

3. Statement 3 of the declaration refers to any arrangement that may require to be disclosed to HM Revenue & Customs under what are called the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes rules. More details are to be found here. Any scheme that might also potentially fall foul of the General Anti-Abuse Rule introduced in 2013 would also be covered by this statement.

If you are in any doubt as to whether either of these situations apply to you (and they tend to only relate to specially packaged tax avoidance schemes) you definitely need to seek independent professional advice.

4. Statement 4 extends the restrictions in statement 3 to any scheme that may be considered to be tax avoidance. This does not apply to things such as saving in pension schemes or ISAs and nor does it prevent the claiming of any appropriate business expenses or allowances. It also does not prevent you incorporating your business to obtain a tax saving as the law specifically allows that.

If you have any doubt about what tax avoidance is and the risks it involves we suggest you read the HM Revenue & Customs guidance published on their page “Tempted by tax avoidance?”

In general HM Revenue & Customs' advice on this issue is that if an arrangement for tax saving looks too good to be true, or feels artificial, then it almost certainly is and it is best to steer well clear of it.

About the Pledge

Its aim is to help those people who believe in a fair society and playing by the rules to say so publicly; and in the process, to send a powerful message to those who cheat the system.

It is designed for use by individual citizens and sole traders and produced by the Fair Tax Foundation, the organisation behind the label for good taxpaying companies, but is an entirely distinct and separate project.

There is no audit or assessment process associated with signing the Pledge. This means that the person signing the Pledge is solely responsible for the truth and accuracy of the statements they make. As such signing the Pledge is not a legally binding act.

The use of the Pledge logo does not imply any endorsement from the Fair Tax Foundation Limited to any signatory; nor can the Fair Tax Foundation Limited be held responsible or liable if a signatory is found to be in breach of any of the terms of the Pledge.

If you sign up to the Fair Tax Pledge, your data will be stored in our secure database for up to 10 years. If you give us permission to share your name, it may be publicly shown in support of the Fair Tax Pledge. If you require your data to be changed or deleted, please email the Fair Tax Foundation with your request. You can read our full privacy policy here.