Regulation of the tax profession – is it necessary

This article is intended as a response to the thoughtful and thought-provoking article ‘Independent approach’ by Claire Aston in Taxation 27 March 2025. She is director of TaxWatch an investigative thinktank which is ‘dedicated to compliance with and sound administration of tax law’.

TaxWatch has a very clear focus on increasing the tax yield by way of reduced avoidance and evasion and generally improved compliance. Its website is very professional and includes numerous interesting articles.

For all of that I do not agree with Ms Aston and I explain why below.

Who am I? While I am writing this piece anonymously it will suffice to say that I am a sole practitioner who is both a chartered tax adviser and a chartered accountant. I have somewhat more than ten years’ professional experience.

Independent regulation: a single solution?

Ms Aston brought up three key areas of...