The Scottish Government scrapped its tax advisory group in February, minutes of its last meeting show.
The document, published on Thursday, shows the body – which included representatives of business, unions and local government and advised on tax policy – had its final meeting on February 18, and the decision to scrap it was not announced to the public.
The minutes recorded the opening remarks made by then finance secretary Shona Robison.
“The Cabinet Secretary noted that this would be the final TAG meeting, and thanked members for their engagement with, and contribution to, this process during this parliamentary session,” the document said.
“She outlined an overview of TAG activities and outputs since its inception in 2023, including contributions to the Scottish Government’s tax strategy, published in December 2024.”
Opposition parties have hit out at the decision.
Labour finance spokesman Michael Marra said the group’s end shows the Government has “had enough of experts”, though “in reality, they never bothered listening in the first place”.
He added: “Key tax decisions were taken without any discussion with this group that was assembled at taxpayers’ expense, and the expert members were just waiting for the SNP to seize the chance to kill it.
It’s not that the SNP do not need expert advice on tax, they just do not want to be constrained by any
“The fact that the new Cabinet Secretary for Finance had never heard of the group when I asked her about it in Parliament told us where things were headed.
“It’s not that the SNP do not need expert advice on tax, they just do not want to be constrained by any as they scramble to have hard-pushed taxpayers plug the £5 billion black hole ministers have created in our public finances.”
Scottish Tory finance spokesman Craig Hoy added: “This is a deeply worrying sign for hard-pressed Scots, who are already being clobbered by sky-high SNP taxes.
“John Swinney was clearly ignoring the warnings from business leaders and economists that continually hiking taxes kills growth, but now his Government have stopped listening to them altogether.
“Instead of reining in Scotland’s out-of-control benefits bill, Swinney and his new Finance Secretary Jenny Gilruth are clearly intent on raising tax even further on people and business to fund their endless profligacy.
“It’s unsustainable and spells disaster for Scotland’s economy.”
Scottish Liberal Democrat economy spokesman Liam McArthur said: “People are not feeling the benefit of their taxes going up and up. Businesses have also been mucked around.
“Scotland needs a predictable and sensible approach to tax. That’s how we produce great public services and grow the economy.”