The debate on the impact on Scotland, as well as the rest of the UK, of an independent Scotland with a separate tax base continues to gather momentum.

In a recent announcement the Scottish government has started to shape the mould for a tax system for Scotland; a system whose first role will be managing and collecting the two devolved taxes. Replacements for stamp duty land tax (SDLT), and landfill tax, are due to come into effect in Scotland in 2015. The clock is ticking on getting a system designed and established to be operational in what is a relatively short space of time.