The Tax Take: Business needs to know what amount of tax it should be paying

The great philosopher of tax systems, Adam Smith, thought that certainty in the tax system was more important than equity. The time, manner and quantity of tax to be paid should be clear and plain to the taxpayer. His reason for this is that, unless the system is certain, the taxpayer is left at the whim of the tax collector. An uncertain tax system is inherently unfair.

It is well over 200 years ...