Taxing questions: How the government's 'limited understanding' of environmental taxes is hampering green goals

Cecilia Keating
clock • 5 min read

National Audit Office urges government to start measuring impacts of environmental taxes more closely in order to give Parliament a better idea of the role tax can play in meeting green goals

The Treasury and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have a "limited understanding" of how the UK's tax regime supports the government's climate and environmental objectives. That is the blunt conclusion...

To continue reading this article...

Join BusinessGreen

In just a few clicks you can start your free BusinessGreen Lite membership for 12 months, providing you access to:

  • Three complimentary articles per month covering the latest real-time news, analysis, and opinion from Europe’s leading source of information on the Green economy and business
  • Receive important and breaking news stories via our daily news alert
  • Our weekly newsletter with the best of the week’s green business news and analysis

Join now

 

Already a BusinessGreen member?

Login

More on Taxation

Analysts warn energy bills still set to rise, despite VAT cut

Analysts warn energy bills still set to rise, despite VAT cut

Cornwall Insight calculates decision to remove VAT from electricity will save average household £44, but bills are still set to climb two per cent due to rising gas prices

James Murray
clock 21 July 2026 • 4 min read
Burnham announces 'immediate action' to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills

Burnham announces 'immediate action' to remove VAT from domestic electricity bills

Decision will cut energy bills for average household by £45 a year and reduce running costs for heat pumps and electric vehicles

James Murray
clock 21 July 2026 • 5 min read
Study: Food labelling and carbon pricing could cut UK emissions by five per cent

Study: Food labelling and carbon pricing could cut UK emissions by five per cent

New analysis calculates that a tax on the most emissions-intensive foods could slash climate impacts and deliver wider social benefits

James Murray
clock 20 July 2026 • 3 min read