Mark Drakeford, Cabinet Secretary for Finance
The Welsh Revenue Authority (WRA) started collecting and managing Wales’ two new taxes – land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax, which replaced stamp duty land tax and landfill tax, respectively – on April 1.
These two new taxes – the first Welsh taxes to be introduced in almost 800 years – represent a significant milestone in Wales’ devolution journey.
The WRA is responsible for collecting tax revenue on behalf of the Welsh Government. The revenue raised from these two taxes will support the provision of public services in Wales, including schools, the NHS and social care. It is estimated land transaction tax and landfill disposals tax will raise more than £1bn in the first four years.
The WRA is today publishing its first Corporate Plan. This sets out how it will deliver the three priorities I set out in its first remit letter:
- Enable people to pay the right amount of tax at the right time, maintaining high standards of customer service and support;
- Manage the devolved tax system, building relationships with other bodies to help deter and tackle tax evasion and tax avoidance;
- Lead improvements to the administration of devolved taxation in Wales.
The WRA’s Corporate Plan describes the principles which underpin its relationship with taxpayers and other important stakeholders to develop a Welsh way of administering tax.
Other key operational documents, including the framework agreement between the WRA and Welsh Government will also be published.
It important the WRA and Welsh Government work together to ensure future tax policy is informed by the best possible data and analysis. The partnership principles and the underpinning governance policies, which will enable this, are reflected in the framework document.
The WRA will publish regular statistics about the taxes it administers in Wales. The publication timetable is available on the WRA’s website at: https://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/upcoming?field_stats_series_external_organisation%5B543%5D=543
The WRA’s Corporate Plan is available at: https://gov.wales/welsh-revenue-authority-corporate-plan-2018-2019