As well as its primary revenue raising function, the tax system has long been used as a tool to encourage particular types of behaviour (think, for example of the company car tax rules which reward drivers choosing low emission cars with lower tax bills), while discouraging others (as witnessed by the numerous penalties chargeable for a wide range of misdemeanours).

Sport is generally seen as ‘a good thing’ and the Finance (No. 2) Bill 2017 contains (in clause 22) the legislation necessary to give statutory effect to a new corporation tax deduction for contributions to grassroots sports.

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