UK Government shuffling the furniture

Everyone,

Yesterday was Budget Day in the UK - the day when the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, on behalf of the Government, announces changes in tax rates,
the application of tax regimes, and sometimes even the introduction of new
taxes :-/ (and even more rarely, the withdrawal of old ones :-)

Yesterday's Budget contained another tax-related announcement: the merger
of the Inland Revenue (responsible for direct taxation) and HM Customs &
Excise (responsible for indirect taxation) into an as yet un-named national
tax authority.

Clearly, this isn't going to happen overnight, but one happy consequence
of this is the ability of HMCE personnel to claim legitimately to be part
of IR (and vice versa) for OASIS membership purposes. Consequently, Dave
Chambers of HMCE, who has already contributed to the TC as an observer,
will be applying to become an IR member of OASIS and the Tax XML TC. I
for one look forward to his active participation in the TC.

	Andy
-- 

Andy Greener                         Mob: +44 7836 331933
GID Ltd, Reading, UK                 Tel: +44 118 956 1248
                       Fax: +44 118 958 9005