The Finance Bill 2017 was published on 20 March 2017 and runs to a mammoth 762 pages, comfortably taking the record for the longest bill from Finance Bill 2012 which ran to 686 pages. The Bill together with the explanatory notes contains 313,031 words. The Bill contains the legislation for many of the tax measures that have been announced by the government at Spring Budget 2017 and Autumn Statement 2016.

The Finance Bill introduces a number of diverse measures including the introduction of a reduced dividend allowance from April 2018, new laws to continue tackling tax avoidance, a new soft drinks tax and also puts in place the necessary legislation to introduce Making Tax Digital. The Finance Bill also includes measures to ensure that some businesses can no longer offset all their tax liability with past losses, and reforms to the salary sacrifice rules.

Jane Ellison, Financial Secretary to the Treasury, said:

'With this Finance Bill we continue to take important steps towards a fair and sustainable tax system, that raises and protects the revenues needed to fund public services and ensures those with the broadest shoulders contribute the most.'

The Finance Bill, officially known as Finance (No. 2) Bill 2016-17 will go through a number of stages in the House of Commons before proceeding through a further process in the House of Lords prior to becoming an Act of Parliament. The Bill will become known as the Finance Act 2017 when it receives Royal Assent. This is expected to take place before the House of Commons adjourns for the summer recess.