Maya Forstater

@AislingTax @MForstater indeed; tho there is no good reason to withhold the data in this case

@alexcobham @MForstater They don't have it would be my guess. Income not taxable is not reported on the return.

@AislingTax @MForstater yup - they barely had numbers of people for years. Would never spend so much, so opaquely on eg benefits. #uncounted

@alexcobham @MForstater They taxed it then it might not come into the tax net to begin with e.g. oligarchs move elsewhere

@AislingTax @MForstater that's certainly argument made by biz ministries across world as they resist calls to publish tax incentive costs

@AislingTax @MForstater but honestly not v convincing - yes it would require change to collect data, but tiny vs actual cost

@alexcobham @AislingTax -I guess relatively easy to collect info on money in bank, but not so much other stuff?

@alexcobham @AislingTax Also is there a principle? Return shld only ask for info needed for tax, not other stuff govt is just curious about?