We know that HMRC are due to send out ‘Personal Tax Summaries’ in the coming weeks in an attempt to be more transparent about the level of taxes being collected.

However, these summaries only take account of the Direct Taxes we pay and completely ignore the ‘Stealth Taxes’ such as VAT, Stamp Duty, and Insurance Premium Tax.

When you consider that these indirect taxes have increased by nearly 50% over that past decade, reaching £138bn last year, I would have thought that if you want to give people a clear picture of the taxes they are paying, then these indirect taxes should also be included.

The cynic in me would suggest that perhaps this is a politically driven strategy and that perhaps HMRC do not want to be as transparent as they would like to suggest?