OpenCharities

This text was generated using OCR and may contain errors. Check the original PDF to see the document submitted to the regulator.

2025-12-31-accounts

2024 Impact Report

Trustees’ Report Year ended 31 December 2025 Institute for Fiscal Studies

Institute for Fiscal Studies

1

Contents

Contents
Company information 2
Introduction from the Chair of Trustees 3
Objects and activities 4
The objects of the Institute 4
Public benefit 4
Strategic framework 4
How has the Institute furthered these aims? 4
Governance and management 5
Constitution 5
Members of the Board of Trustees 5
Remuneration policy 7
Organisational structure of the Institute
and the decision-making process 7
Statement of policy on fundraising 7
Charity Governance Code 8
Review of 2025 9
Selected highlights 10
Priorities for 2026 and beyond 11
Strategic Report 12
Financial review 12
Reserves policy 12
Principal risks and uncertainties 13
Going concern 13
Trustees
responsibilities		 14
Independent Auditor
s Report		 15
Financial Reports 19
Statement of financial activities 19
Balance sheet 20
Statement of cash flows 21
Notes to the accounts 22

5

Company information

Company registered office

2 Marylebone Road London NW1 4DF

Company registered number

00954616 (Incorporated in England and Wales)

Registered charity

258815

Company bankers

National Westminster Bank plc

City of London Office 1 Princes Street

London EC2R 8BP

Auditor

Moore Kingston Smith LLP

9 Appold Street London

EC2A 2AP

Institute for Fiscal Studies

2

5

Introduction from the Chair of Trustees

I am pleased to present the Trustees Report of the activities of IFS in 2025.

In June 2025, IFS said goodbye to Paul Johnson, who had led the organisation for fourteen years. Paul built on the foundations of several distinguished directors, raising the organisation to new heights of excellence, both in cutting-edge research and wide-ranging impact on our society. The thanks of colleagues and Trustees go with him as he takes up his new role as Provost of Trustees were delighted to appoint Helen Miller as the Helen trajectory at IFS is testament to the way the organisation builds capacity by training promising young economists and helping them build their

careers. After joining in 2007, she was Head of the Tax team since 2016 and Deputy Director since 2019. With over 17 years of experience analysing UK fiscal policy, as a media commentator and providing trusted advice to policymakers, she is the ideal person to build on the strengths of IFS and to make sure it keeps its pre-eminent role at the heart of UK economic research and policymaking.

During the year, IFS once again justified its reputation as the most respected and influential independent institution in economic and fiscal policy in the UK. Researchers analysed and explained policies and proposals for fiscal events for the UK as a whole and across the regions.

The authority to comment on policies and policy proposals and to work with governments to understand and improve policy development comes from unparalleled excellence in academic research conducted at IFS. As we mention below, during the year researchers published work in top peer-reviewed journals from the American Economic Journal to the Journal of Health Economics , from the Journal of Development Economics to the Journal of Political Economy. In common with nearly all publications and outputs by IFS staff, these papers are published as Open Access articles, available free of charge online for everyone to read.

IFS is entirely independent of political parties, companies, individuals and pressure groups, with much of its funding coming through a peer-reviewed process from UK Research and Innovation. During the year, renewed funding from UKRI for our prestigious Research Institute for the Microeconomic Analysis of Public Policy began, led by Professor Imran Rasul; this will provide much-needed consistency of funding for the next five years.

On behalf of the Trustees, I thank all the staff at IFS for their tireless work, continuing to produce and disseminate excellent research of the highest standard. I would like to thank my fellow Trustees for giving their time and expertise so generously throughout the year.

Harry Gaskell Chair of Trustees, Institute for Fiscal Studies

Institute for Fiscal Studies

3

5

Objects and activities

The objects of the Institute

The objects of IFS are the advancement of education, for the benefit of the public, by promotion on a nonpolitical basis of the study and discussion of, and the exchange and dissemination of information and knowledge concerning, the economic and social effects and influences of:

So as to advance these objects, it is IFS s policy to retain the right to publish its reports openly in order to inform public debate and policymaking.

Public benefit

The Members of the Board of Trustees confirm that they have complied with the duty in Section 17 of the Charities Act 2011 and have taken due regard of the Charity Commission s general guidance on public benefit. Examples of how the Institute has aimed to meet its public benefit are given in the review of 2025, where the Institute s achievements are reported.

Strategic framework

IFS operates within a strategic framework agreed by the Board of Trustees; in addition to its regular meetings, the Board meets every year to discuss strategy with IFS staff, discuss issues, opportunities and difficulties, and agree on objectives. These discussions cover maintaining excellence in research, preserving independence and impartiality in policy analysis, engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, financial viability and good management, good governance, and supporting Institute members.

How has the Institute furthered these aims?

During the year, the Institute has carried out a wide range of research and has publicised the resulting findings as widely as possible through publications and conference participation, on its own website, on social media and in broadcast and written media. Success lies in the scientific quality of our research and the efficacy with which our findings have informed the public debate. The following pages outline how this has been done, as well as highlighting significant operational changes.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

4

5

Governance and management

Constitution

The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) was incorporated by guarantee on 21 May 1969. It is a private company limited by guarantee and has no share capital. It is a registered charity. The guarantee of each Company Law member ( Member ) is limited to £1. The governing document is the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company and the members of the Board of Trustees are the Directors of the Company and the Trustees.

Company Law members consist of the IFS Council members. At the end of December 2025, the number of guarantors was 48 (49 at the end of December 2024), five of whom were elected by the IFS members. The Articles contain the provision that the IFS Council be expanded to no more than 50 persons and that it shall consist of up to 45 members elected by Council and five members elected by the wider IFS membership.

Members of the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees is established by the IFS Council: Trustees are elected by the Council from among themselves; the Board consists of at least seven and no more than twelve people, one of whom is ex officio the President of the Council. Trustees serve three-year terms, and will usually only serve a maximum of three terms. The Board of Trustees met five times during the year. Committee membership during 2025 was:

the Board of Trustees set up two subcommittees during 2019 to help improve scrutiny of the Institute s operations a Nominations Committee and an Audit Committee. An Investment Committee was formed in 2023. The remits and memberships of the committees are as set out below.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

5

5

Attendance at board meetings

----- Start of picture text -----
February May June September December
Winnie Armah Y N Y Y Y
Jonathan Athow N Y N Y N
James Bell Y Y Y Y N
Swati Dhingra Y N Y Y Y
Harry Gaskell Y Y Y Y Y
David Gregson Y N Y Y Y
Peter Kane Y Y Y Y Y
Caroline Mawhood Y Y Y Y Y
Orna NiChionna Y Y N Y Y
Y N Y N Y
Nicholas Timmins Y Y Y Y Y
----- End of picture text -----

Audit Committee

The Audit Committee s overall objective is to give advice to the Board of Trustees on:

Membership during 2025: Jonathan Athow[] , Peter Kane[] , Caroline Mawhood[*] (Chair) IFS staff attending: Carl Emmerson (Deputy Director), Slav Sikora-Sikorski (Finance Director)

Nominations Committee

Membership during 2025: Harry Gaskell[¥] (Chair), David Gregson[] , Orna NiChionna[] , Sue Owen[§] IFS staff attending: Carl Emmerson (Deputy Director), Emma Hyman (Head of Operations)

Institute for Fiscal Studies

6

5

Investment Committee

Membership during 2025: David Gregson[] , Peter Kane[ ] (Chair), Orna NiChionna[*] IFS staff attending: Slav Sikora-Sikorski (Finance Director)

Induction and training of Trustees

New Trustees receive training and induction following their appointment. Trustees are kept up-to-date with IFS research by a rolling programme of research presentations made at each meeting of the Board of Trustees.

Remuneration policy

The salary of the Director is determined by the Board of Trustees when renewing his or her contract and is normally increased each year by a cost-of-living adjustment, in line with salaries across the Institute. The pay of all other staff is reviewed by the Director and, where appropriate, other members of senior management annually and is also usually increased by a cost-of-living adjustment. From time to time, the salary scales of the Institute are benchmarked against comparable organisations.

Organisational structure of the Institute and the decision-making process

The overall management of IFS is carried out by the Director, Helen Miller (who took over from Paul Johnson in July 2025), who reports to the Trustees on a quarterly basis. The Director is part of the Senior Management Team of the Institute, which also during 2025 comprised the Deputy Directors, Carl Emmerson, Helen Miller (until July 2025 when she was succeeded by Jonathan Cribb) and George Stoye; the Directors of the Professional Services team, Bonnie Brimstone, Emma Hyman, Lizza Ollard and Slav Sikora-Sikorski; the Deputy Research Directors, Monica Costa Dias and Sonya Krutikova; and the Research Director, Imran Rasul.

The Board of Trustees delegates the operational responsibilities of the Institute to the Director of the or she in turn delegates various duties to senior staff.

In 2025, the Institute employed directly an average of 91 (2024: 86) full- and part-time staff usually based at its office in London. Research staff are divided into sectors, and administrative staff provide support facilities.

The Institute also employed indirectly 11 (2024: 12) senior academic staff based at UK universities on a part-time basis. In addition, a number of other academics from both UK and overseas institutions work with the staff as Research Fellows and Research Associates on an ad hoc collaborative basis.

Statement of policy on fundraising

Section 162A of the Charities Act 2011 requires us to make a statement regarding fundraising activities. We do not undertake widespread fundraising activities with members of the public, although we do accept donations or offers from partners to contribute to work that we undertake. The legislation defines fundraising as soliciting or otherwise procuring money or other property for charitable purposes . Such amounts receivable are presented in our accounts as donations and legacies . We do not use professional

Institute for Fiscal Studies

7

5

fundraisers or commercial participators or any other third parties to solicit donations. We are therefore not subject to any regulatory scheme or relevant codes of practice, nor have we received any complaints in relation to fundraising activities.

Charity Governance Code

In July 2017, a revised Charity Governance Code was published setting out recommended practice. The Board of Trustees is supportive of the principles set out in the code and is keen to ensure that these are built into the governance of the organisation. To this end, during 2019, Trustees carried out a detailed review of its governance policies and procedures with reference to the code and agreed on a plan to put in place measures to comply where appropriate. The plan was implemented.

The Nominations Committee noted the updates made to the governance code in 2020, relating to integrity and to diversity. Integrity has always been central to the values of the Institute and a sine qua non for staff, Trustees and collaborators. A further review was started in 2025 to help ensure that the governance structure and procedures are in keeping with the revised code, issued in November 2025 as an updated Charity Governance Code, and are appropriate to uphold integrity to a high standard. Any recommendations from that review will be implemented from 2026 onwards.

In the light of updated principles relating to diversity and inclusion, the Nominations Committee considers these criteria when looking at the make-up of the Board of Trustees and of the Council. In particular, the Trustees are delighted that they have been able to increase both gender and ethnic diversity on the Council, a step that was much needed and a trend that they will strive to continue.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

8

5

Review of 2025

During 2025, IFS responded to significant events relating to UK policy, which included a number of fiscal events UK-wide and in the devolved regions. IFS research received sustained coverage, driven by major fiscal events and high-profile IFS publications. Key moments included: the IFS Green Budget and the Autumn Statement in November; continued impact in Scotland; strong coverage of annual education spending report; and media interest around the launch of the final report from our multi-year Pensions Review.

IFS aims to reach a range of audiences, using strategies tailored to the expertise and interests of those groups. Methods used to connect with people include in-person meetings with national and regional policymakers, evidence to select committees and government bodies, written reports, public events, academic conferences, social media posts, digital tools, materials for schools and students, podcasts and videos.

The expertise that allows IFS researchers to explain and improve policy is underpinned by leading-edge academic research. Following the publication of the wide-ranging IFS Deaton Review of Inequalities in 2024 by Oxford University Press, a summary volume aimed at a wider audience is in progress, with an expected publication date in Spring 2026. Researchers have published articles in top journals and taken part in conferences, seminars and academic collaborations. Examples of research programmes that were ongoing in 2025 include the IFS Pensions Review; research into productivity and labour markets; the Centre for Tax Analysis in Developing Countries; and collaborations with health experts into child nutrition and health and social care.

More information about IFS research and publications can be found on the IFS website: https://ifs.org.uk/research-and-analysis.

To support our research and engagement, IFS has raised research funding during the year. A key funding source is UK Research and Innovation, which, most significantly, funds the ESRC Institute for Public Policy (CPP) at IFS. Funding for this core research programme was applied for and renewed this year, with the new five-year tranche beginning in Autumn 2025.

IFS research is funded through research grants, from the UK Research Councils, charitable trusts such as the Nuffield Foundation, and elsewhere (see the financial review on page 12 for details). During 2025, IFS was notified of the outcome of 43 research proposals, of which 34 were approved for funding (79% success rate by number). This was an increase on the success rate in 2024 (67%). The total value of awards made was £5.2m (£14.9m in 2024, which included the announcement of the £10m ESRC Institute award). The number of potential funders approached was 30 and funding was awarded by 24 different organisations (23 and 18 in 2024). A total of 98 funded research projects were active in 2025, which is a little higher than in 2024 (87). Selected ongoing and new research projects from 2025 are outlined below.

A list of projects active during 2025 can be found on the IFS website: https://ifs.org.uk/about/finance.

In a significant change for the Institute, Paul Johnson stepped down as Director in June 2025; he was succeeded by Helen Miller who has built her career at IFS since joining as a junior economist in 2007. She had been Head of Tax since 2016 and Deputy Director since 2019. She has over 17 years of experience analysing UK fiscal policy, providing trusted advice to policymakers and commenting in the media.

Operationally, a key event during 2025 was the move to new premises, in Marylebone Road. The organisation had been based at the same location for nearly 30 years, so the move was a significant undertaking. We took the opportunity to review requirements for our office space, putting in place additional high-quality meeting spaces with upgraded audiovisual equipment to enable better collaboration, both internally and with external academics and other stakeholders. We were also able to improve the spaces used for making podcasts and for recording broadcast interviews, which has increased the quality and quantity of our outputs. Introducing flexible working areas has also allowed more academic visitors to be hosted throughout the year; in economics and the social sciences more broadly.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

9

5

Alongside the physical office move to new premises, IFS has been updating its ICT infrastructure. This entailed a move away from in-house servers to cloud computing. Aside from some confidential data which cannot be stored in the cloud, our data and processing have been transferred to cloud servers. Staff have also moved away from PCs at desks in the office to laptops which are used for hybrid working. The new arrangements have allowed us to increase security measures and keep closer controls on data access.

Part of the remit of IFS is to build capacity and expertise in the social sciences in the UK and elsewhere. In 2025, we recruited three new graduates and three postdoctoral researchers. The organisation also hosted eight summer students. Because our office move took place over the summer, we were not able to participate in the work experience programme to encourage interest in social science research amongst under-represented groups of young people. We will resume participation in 2026.

IFS acts as a hub for UK researchers and experts, with a wide network of affiliates who frequently visit from the UK and overseas to collaborate with IFS researchers. During the year, we hosted a series of guest seminars, as well as larger academic and policy-focused events. Our researchers and communications professionals continued to seek ways to engage in dialogue with audiences across the UK and further afield. An example was the biennial IFS residential conference, which took place in Oxford and brought together academics, policymakers and tax professionals; the theme for 2025 was business taxation.

Details of all IFS events can be found on the website: https://ifs.org.uk/events.

Selected highlights

During the year, a number of members of staff were recognised for their excellence in the field. IFS researchers and affiliates Pedro Carneiro, Sarah Cattan, Gabriella Conti, Claire Crawford, Christine Farquharson and Nick Ridpath received the ONS Research Excellence Award 2025 for research into the outcomes of Sure Start. Long-standing IFS Research Fellow Philippe Aghion was jointly awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences (with Peter Howitt from Brown University) alongside Joel Mokyr from Northwestern University. IFS Research into social capital in the workplace was referenced in the 2025 . The Institute celebrated a double victory at the 2025 Smart Thinking awards, winning the overall Think Tank of the Year award as well as the Best Publication award.

Top journals and press highlights

Top five journal articles past decade (2016 ~~2~~ 5): 48 Top field journal articles past decade (201 ~~6 2~~ 5): 129

Front pages 2025: 123* (301 in 2024, 144 in 2023, 258 in 2022)

Press interviews 2025: 291 (413 in 2024, 304 in 2023, 493 in 2022) including 22 on Today, 14 on LBC and 59 on BBC Radio 4

Academic and policy publications summary

----- Start of picture text -----
Type 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021
Journal articles 74 102 82 81 48
Top five journal articles 8 6 6 3 2
Top field journal articles 12 17 11 21 13
Working papers 68 89 70 105 67
IFS reports 48 58 70 55 44
Comments 99 117 95 79 42
----- End of picture text -----

More statistics for publications and impact are on the IFS website: https://ifs.org.uk/about/impact.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

10

5

Priorities for 2026 and beyond

In addition to the UKRIwork, two other large projects are under way, broadening the impact of IFS research. The first focuses on access to the justice system, pathways through the justice system and wider effects on well-being for those experiencing the justice system. The second project aims to transform understanding of economic inequalities within and between the UK's ethnic minority groups. Informed by multidisciplinary insights, researchers are bringing together cutting-edge methods and newly linked datasets. For both projects, IFS researchers are in a unique position to engage with policymakers and stakeholders, and to upskill a generation of researchers in the study of ethnic inequalities.

Other plans for 2026 include work to extend IFS expertise in environmental economics. This includes funding won jointly with the London School of Economics for work to contribute to our understanding of sustainable growth.

Research will also continue in established areas of expertise. Examples include a programme of work on pensions and retirement saving, funded by a consortium of organisations; a prestigious New Investigator grant to fund research on poverty, benefit policies and child outcomes; and evaluation of the effectiveness of the Connect to Work programme aimed at helping people with disabilities into the labour market.

An operational priority for 2026 will be the transition to a new, more modern accounting and project management system. With a large number of complex research grants to manage every year, it is essential for the Institute to harness technology as efficiently as possible. The transition to the new system will be a significant project and will result in efficiency savings, better accountability to funders and more effective internal management accounting and grant management.

Because data and therefore data security are central e continually review our security standards. During 2026, we will move towards compliance with Cyber Essentials Plus; we already have Cyber Essentials certification.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

11

5

Strategic Report

Financial review

The results for the year ended 31 December 2025 are presented in the statement of financial activities on page 19. The annual surplus was higher than in previous years due to the in-year impact s receipt of lease compensation relating to its office move to 2 Marylebone Road. However, IFS will incur modest expenses in respect of its new office fit-out over the next ten years, in line with its depreciation policy.

The statement of financial activities shows an overall surplus for the year ended 31 December 2025 of £947,283 (2024: £561,152). The composition of the surplus was broadly £500,000 in respect of the office move, £268,123 surplus on membership and donations, and £131,300 investment income, with a small surplus on research of around £100,000 driven by research contract surplus in excess of research grant deficits. The last figure reflects the impact of inflation on multi-year fixed-budget research grants. There was an unrealised loss on investment of £62,112 in the year.

Total income was £13,081,588 (2024: £11,370,473) and total expenditure was £12,072,193 (2024: £10,959,987). The rise in expenditure was primarily due to increased premises costs (£613,799) and increased IFS staff costs (£393,455 due to both an increase in headcount and pay rises).

The Institute attempts to raise its research funds from a range of organisations so that it is not dependent upon a single source of funding. Although 39% of the income recognised in 2025 was provided by the Economic and Social Research Council (46% in 2024), this funding covers a wide range of projects.

Reserves policy

The reserves policy is twofold: one, to hold funds for working capital purposes and as a contingency, should sufficient new funding not emerge or should existing contracts be cancelled; and two, to reflect the net book value of fixed and intangible assets.

As at 31 December 2025, the Institute s total reserves were £6,061,115 (2024: £5,113,832), comprising the unrestricted General Fund of £5,151,568 (2024: £5,031,403), the unrestricted Fixed Asset Fund of £909,547 (2024: £47,552) and the unrestricted Intangible Asset Fund of £0 (2024: £34,877).

The General Fund reflects the Institute s net current assets and is considered to be the amount of reserves that could be easily converted to cash, should the need arise. The target is for the General Fund to be maintained at a level to cover up to six months expenditure (excluding direct project costs). The Trustees wish to continue to raise modest surpluses so that the General Fund meets this target. In 2025, the General Fund represented 6.9 months of expenditure (2024: 6.3 months).

The Fixed Asset Fund was established in 2010 such that this fund would be equivalent in value to the net book value of the Institute s fixed assets. In 2025, this fund increased substantially due to the new office fit-out, to £909,547 (2024: £47,552).

The Intangible Asset Fund comprises IFS s investment in a new website, launched in 2022, which is being paid for out of the General Fund. In 2025, the value is £0, the website having been fully depreciated on a straight-line basis over three years.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

12

5

----- Start of picture text -----
2025 2025 2025 2024 2024 2024
Unrestricted Restricted Total Unrestricted Restricted Total
Cash and cash equivalents 3,024,595 1,008,400 4,032,995 2,361,711 1,891,506 4,253,217
Less net project grants (537,015) (487,048) (1,024,063) (332,034) (1,454,279) (1,786,313)
received in advance
Cash holdings (excluding 2,487,580 521,352 3,008,932 2,029,677 437,227 2,466,904
net project grants received
in advance)
Other working capital (459,686) (521,352) (981,038) (184,060) (437,227) (621,287)
Investments 3,123,674 - 3,123,674 3,185,786 - 3,185,786
General Fund 5,151,568 - 5,151,568 5,031,403 - 5,031,403
No. of months of forecast 6.90 6.29
expenditure (excluding
direct project costs)
Target level for the General £4.5m £4.8m
expenditure, excluding
direct project costs)
General Fund 5,151,568 - 5,151,568 5,031,403 - 5,031,403
Fixed Asset Fund 909,547 - 909,547 47,552 - 47,552
Intangible Asset Fund - - - 34,877 - 34,877
Total reserves 6,061,115 - 6,061,115 5,113,832 - 5,113,832
----- End of picture text -----

Principal risks and uncertainties

The Board of Trustees has overall responsibility for ensuring that the Institute has appropriate systems of control, both financial and operational. These systems are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss.

During the year, the Board of Trustees continued to review the major financial and operational risks facing the Institute. It continues to monitor, on an annual basis, the implementation of any changes necessary to ensure that, as far as is reasonable, controls are in place to protect the Institute, its members, its staff, the general public and other stakeholders.

The key risks that have been considered by the Board of Trustees in 2025 are:

Going concern

IFS has modelled and stress-tested its cash flows and this work concluded that it will have sufficient liquid resources (cash and investments that can be converted to cash) to continue to operate for at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. The members of the Board of Trustees have reviewed this work and are happy with the methodology and conclusions. They thus remain of the statements have therefore been prepared on the basis that IFS is a going concern.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

13

5

Trustees responsibilities

The Trustees are responsible for preparing the Trustees annual report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland ).

Company law requires the Trustees to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under company law, the Trustees must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the charity and of the incoming resources and application of resources, including income and expenditure, of the charity for the year. In preparing those financial statements, the Trustees are required:

The Trustees are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the charity s transactions, to disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the charity and to enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the charity and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

So far as each of the Trustees at the time the report is approved are aware:

The Trustees are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the charity s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of the financial statements and other information included in annual reports may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Trustees and signed on their behalf by

Harry Gaskell, Chair of Trustees

Date: 09/06/26

Company registered number: 00954616

Registered charity: 258815

Institute for Fiscal Studies

14

5

Independent Auditor s Report to members of The Institute for Fiscal Studies

Opinion on the financial statements

In our opinion, the financial statements:

We have audited the financial statements of The Institute for Fiscal Studies ( the Charitable Company ) for the year ended 31 December 2025 which comprise the statement of financial activities, balance sheet, statement of cash flows and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial Reporting Standard 102 The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

Basis for opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We are independent of the Charitable Company in accordance with the ethical requirements relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions related to going concern

In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Trustees use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate.

Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Charitable Company s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Trustees with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report.

Other information

The Trustees are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Trustees Report, other than the financial statements and our auditor s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit,

Institute for Fiscal Studies

15

5

or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.

We have nothing to report in this regard.

Other Companies Act 2006 reporting

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Charitable Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatement in the Strategic Report or the Trustees Report.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion;

Responsibilities of Trustees

As explained more fully in the Trustees responsibilities, the Trustees (who are also the Directors of the Charitable Company for the purposes of company law) are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Trustees determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the Trustees are responsible for assessing the Charitable Company s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Trustees either intend to liquidate the Charitable Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

We have been appointed as auditor under the Companies Act 2006 and report in accordance with the Act and relevant regulations made or having effect thereunder.

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

16

5

Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud

Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below:

Based on our understanding of the Charitable Company and the industry in which it operates, we identified that the principal laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements to be the Charities Act, UK Companies Act and relevant tax legislation. We assessed the extent of compliance with these laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.

In addition the Charitable Company is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: Employment Law and Data Protection. Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the Directors and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence if any.

There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed noncompliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it.

Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion.

Audit procedures capable of detecting irregularities including fraud performed by the engagement team included:

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located at the Financial Reporting Council s website at:

https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor s report.

Use of our report

This report is made solely to the Charitable Company s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Charitable Company s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to

Institute for Fiscal Studies

17

5

anyone other than the Charitable Company and the Charitable Company s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

James Saunders

For and on behalf of Moore Kingston Smith LLP, Statutory Auditor

London, UK

Date

Moore Kingston Smith LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127).

Institute for Fiscal Studies

18

5

Financial reports

Statement of financial activities

Year ended 31 December 2025
2025
2025
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Total
£
£
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
2
Charitable activities
3
Investment income
4
Other income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
6
Charitable activities
6
Total expenditure
Net income before net gains on
investment
Net gains on investments
11
Net income for the year
Transfers between funds
15
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
16
Total funds carried forward
16		 388,220
-
388,220
432,912
2,128,367
9,216,590
11,344,957
10,670,404
131,300
-
131,300
188,684
1,217,111
-
1,217,111
78,473
3,864,998
9,216,590
13,081,588
11,370,473
120,097
-
120,097
105,299
2,062,949
9,889,147
11,952,096
10,854,688
2,183,046
9,889,147
12,072,193
10,959,987
1,681,952
(672,557)
1,009,395
410,486
(62,112)
-
(62,112)
150,666
1,619,840
(672,557)
947,283
561,152
(672,557)
672,557
-
-
947,283
-
947,283
561,152
5,113,832
-
5,113,832
4,552,680
6,061,115
-
6,061,115
5,113,832

There were no other recognised gains or losses other than the net income for the year. All amounts relate to continuing operations.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

19

5

Balance sheet

As at 31 December 2025
£		 2024
£
Fixed assets
Tangible assets
10
Investments
11
Debtors: amounts falling due after more than
one year
Total fixed assets
Intangible assets
12
Total intangible assets
Current assets
Debtors
13
Short-term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
Total current assets
Liabilities:
Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
14
Net current assets
Creditors: amounts falling due after one year
14
Net assets
Total funds:
Unrestricted funds
- General Fund
15
- Fixed Asset Fund
15
- Intangible Asset Fund
15
Restricted
15
Total		 909,547
3,123,674
100,000		 47,552
3,185,786
-
4,133,221
-
-
2,431,851
3,033,053
999,942		 3,233,338
34,877
34,877
2,010,402
2,522,571
1,730,646
6,464,846
(4,370,977)		 6,263,619
(4,418,002)
2,093,869
(165,975)
6,061,115
5,151,568
909,547
-
6,061,115
-		 1,845,617
-
5,113,832
5,031,403
47,552
34,877
5,113,832
-
6,061,115 5,113,832

Approved and authorised for issue by the Trustees and signed on their behalf by

Harry Gaskell, Chair of Trustees

Date: 09/06/26

Institute for Fiscal Studies

20

5

Company registered number: 00954616

Registered Charity: 258815

Statement of cash flows

Year ended 31 December 2025
2024
£
£
Reconciliation of net income to net cash flow from operating activities
Net income for the reporting period
(as per the statement of financial activities)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation charges
Amortisation charges
Investment income
(Gains) on investments
(Increase) in debtors and accrued income
Increase / (decrease) in creditors and accrued expenses
(Decrease) in grants received in advance of expenditure
Net cash (expended on) / generated from operating activities
Interest on investments
Increase in lease deposit
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Purchase of investments
Cash flows from investing activities
Change in cash and cash equivalents in the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the reporting period
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents
Short-term deposits
Cash at bank and in hand
Total cash and cash equivalents		 947,283
561,152
60,659
34,527
34,877
46,502
(131,300)
(188,684)
62,112
(150,666)
(421,449)
(200,912)
610,939
(573,778)
(491,989)
(507,981)
671,132
(979,840)
131,300
188,684
(100,000)
-
(922,654)
(19,279)
-
(397,699)
(891,354)
(228,294)
(220,222)
(1,208,133)
4,253,217
5,461,350
4,032,995
4,253,217
3,033,053
2,522,571
999,942
1,730,646
4,032,995
4,253,217

No net debt reconciliation has been presented as the Institute has no borrowings or external debt.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

21

5

Notes to the accounts

1. Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted, judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty in the preparation of the financial statements are as follows:

a) Basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Accounting and Reporting by Charities: Statement of Recommended Practice applicable to charities preparing their accounts in accordance with the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) - (Charities SORP (FRS 102)), the Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland (FRS 102) and the Companies Act 2006.

calculated to write off the cost of each asset over the term of its estimated useful life.

The Trustees have determined that all costs relating to the refurbishment of the premises be depreciated over ten years, any furniture be depreciated over five years and all other assets depreciated over three years. Assets are written off on a straight-line basis commencing from the quarter after the date of purchase. Where the length of any remaining lease is less than five years, then any refurbishment costs are depreciated up to the end of the year in which the lease comes to an end.

c) Listed investments

The Institute for Fiscal Studies meets the definition of a public benefit entity under FRS 102. Assets and liabilities are initially recognised at historical cost or transaction value unless otherwise stated in the relevant accounting policy note(s).

Going concern

IFS has modelled and stress-tested its cash flows and this work concluded that it will have sufficient liquid resources (cash and investments that can be converted to cash) to continue to operate for at least 12 months from the date of approval of these financial statements. The members of the Board of Trustees have reviewed this work and are happy with the methodology and conclusions. They thus remain of the view that there are no material continue. The financial statements have therefore been prepared on the basis that IFS is a going concern.

b) Tangible fixed assets and depreciation

provided by a major fund manager in the charity sector. Purchases are initially recognised at their transaction value and subsequently measured at their fair value as at the balance sheet date using the closing quoted market price. Any change in fair value will be recognised in the statement of financial activities. Investment gains and losses, whether realised or unrealised, are combined financial activities. The charity does not acquire put options, derivatives or other complex financial instruments.

d) Intangible assets and amortisation

All intangible assets capitalised are amortised over three years from the point when they are brought into actual use.

e) Income membership subscriptions and donations

Membership income is deferred to the extent that it relates to services to be provided in future periods. Donations are credited to the statement of financial activities at the date of receipt.

All tangible fixed assets costing more than £1,000 (excluding VAT) are capitalised and depreciated. Depreciation of fixed assets is

Institute for Fiscal Studies

22

5

f) Income publications

Royalty income receivable from the publisher of the IFS-owned journal, Fiscal Studies , is recognised on an accruals basis and in accordance with the substance of the publishing agreement.

g) Income research activities

Income from research activities is recognised when the Institute has entitlement to the funds, when it is probable that the income will be received and the amount can be measured reliably.

The Institute is usually entitled to research income in stages over the course of a project, subject to performance-related conditions requiring a particular level of service or output, often approximating to when related expenditure is incurred. In such cases, research income is credited to the statement of financial activities when it falls due to be received to the extent that it is matched by related expenditure.

Where donations or grants are received without performance-related conditions, entitlement usually arises on receipt and research income is credited to the statement of financial activities when it falls due to be received.

h) Interest and dividends receivable

Interest on funds held on deposit and dividends on investments are included when receivable and the amount can be measured reliably.

i) Allocation of expenses

Direct and indirect expenses are included when incurred. The majority of expenses are directly attributable to specific activities. Indirect overhead costs (e.g. premises and administration) are allocated on a basis consistent with the use of the resource, usually on a per-capita basis. Irrecoverable VAT is charged as a cost against the activity for which the expenditure was incurred.

j) Pension costs

The pension cost charge represents contributions payable by the Institute to respect of the year.

k) Operating leases

Leasing charges in respect of operating leases are charged to the statement of financial activities as they are incurred.

l) Current asset investments shortterm deposits

Current asset investments include cash on deposit and cash equivalents held for investment purposes rather than to meet short-term cash commitments as they fall due.

m) Foreign currency

and US Dollar accounts at the end of the year was based on the exchange rate as at 31 December 2025. Transactions in foreign currencies are calculated at the exchange rate ruling at the date of the transaction and Institute-wide foreign exchange gains or losses made during the year are taken into account in arriving at the net income for the year.

n) Financial instruments

IFS only has financial assets and financial liabilities of a kind that qualify as basic financial instruments. Basic financial instruments are initially recognised at transaction value and subsequently measured at their settlement value.

o) Critical accounting estimates and areas of judgement

Preparation of the financial statements requires some judgements and estimates to be made. The items in the financial statements where judgements and estimates are made include:

Institute for Fiscal Studies

23

5

p) Funds

IFS maintains three internal funds, which include restricted and unrestricted funds.

Unrestricted General Fund: these funds are derived from any unrestricted donations and grants received by IFS as well as from contracts for research that are unrestricted in nature. These are funds that can be used for any purpose within the charitable objectives of IFS.

Unrestricted designated Fixed Asset Fund: this fund represents resources set aside to cover future capital expenditure. The value of this fund at the year-end represents the net book value of tangible fixed assets and intangible assets.

Restricted research funds: these funds represent grants and donations received to cover project expenditure on research projects. The restrictions are imposed by the funder, usually with respect to the specific research project being undertaken. The nature of the portfolio of research grants and contracts is such that in most cases income and expenditure are closely matched.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

24

5

2. Membership and donations

2025
2024
£
£
Corporate membership
Individual membership
Other donations		 262,150
227,775
52,570
55,637
314,720
283,412
73,500
149,500
388,220
432,912

No donations were received from Trustees and their spouses in the year (2024: £620).

3. Income from charitable activities

IFS frequently collaborates with universities and other research organisations. The income classification below is based on the ultimate funder of the research.

2025
2025
2025
2024
2024
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
ESRC
Charitable trusts
and foundations
Government (or
similar)
Other organisations
Event income
Publications		 -
4,471,995
4,471,995
-
4,951,447
4,951,447
198,409
2,173,956
2,372,365
329,631
1,564,292
1,893,923
1,129,277
2,570,639
3,699,916
996,183
2,363,579
3,359,762
641,458
-
641,458
364,601
98
364,699
122,209
-
122,209
31,473
-
31,473
37,014
-
37,014
69,100
-
69,100
2,128,367
9,216,590
11,344,95
7
1,790,988
8,879,416
10,670,40
4

IFS receives funds in the form of project grants, directly and indirectly, from the UK and other national governments, other governmental agencies and international governmental bodies. These funds are tied to specific research-related activities in the course of the standard charitable activities of IFS. IFS does not receive any funding in the form of general government grants or assistance. Therefore, it is not felt to be necessary, useful or practical to disclose further analysis within these accounts.

4. Investment income

All investment income arises from money held in interest-bearing deposits. IFS reinvests all dividends and other income earned on its investment fund and so takes no distributions to the statement of financial activities.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

25

5

5. Analysis of expenditure

Total costs include payments to third parties that work together with IFS on particular projects. Where the Institute is the lead organisation, it receives funding from the grant-giving body for all participating depending on the types of project undertaken, may vary significantly from year to year.

Analysis of expenditure
2025		 Total
charitable
activities
Raising
funds
Governance
costs
Support
costs
2025
total
2024
total
£
£
£
£
£
£
Research collaborations
and subcontracts
Data costs and data
collection costs
IFS travel, accommodation
and subsistence
Visitor travel,
accommodation and
subsistence
Event, publication and
dissemination costs
Other direct costs
Premises
IT and office costs
Other staff costs
Insurance and
professional fees
Other
Total costs (excl. staff
costs)
Staff costs (universities)
Research Fellows and
Research Associates
IFS staff costs (research)
IFS staff costs (events and
dissemination)
IFS staff costs (research
services)
IFS staff costs (central)
Total staff costs (incl.
Fellows and Associates)
Total expenditure
Allocation of support costs
(including governance)
Total expenditure		 2,005,922
-
-
-
2,005,922
1,581,355
145,037
-
-
-
145,037
176,444
177,529
-
-
-
177,529
233,814
-
-
-
-
-
2,149
498,645
-
-
498,645
430,387
194,471
-
-
-
194,471
197,584
-
-
-
1,290,541
1,290,541
676,742
-
-
-
457,624
457,624
609,917
-
-
-
237,759
237,759
159,551
-
-
36,471
312,357
348,828
368,675
-
-
-
91,574
91,574
83,437
3,021,604
-
36,471
2,389,855
5,447,930
4,520,055
596,031
-
-
-
596,031
790,989
50,417
-
-
-
50,417
64,583
646,448
-
-
-
646,448
855,572
4,625,230
26,246
26,246
-
4,677,722
4,383,164
-
60,897
-
572,353
633,250
559,547
-
9,713
-
184,549
194,262
177,367
-
3,143
26,291
443,147
472,581
464,282
4,625,230
99,999
52,537
1,200,049
5,977,815
5,584,360
5,271,678
99,999
52,537
1,200,049
6,624,263
6,439,932
8,293,282
99,999
89,008
3,589,904
12,072,19
3
10,959,987
3,658,814
20,098
(89,008)
(3,589,904)
-
-
11,952,09
6
120,097
-
-
12,072,19
3
10,959,987

Institute for Fiscal Studies

26

5

Analysis of expenditure 2024 Total
charitable
activities
Raising
funds
Governance
costs
Support
costs
2024
total
£
£
£
£
£
Research collaborations and subcontracts
Data costs and data collection costs
IFS travel, accommodation and subsistence
Visitor travel, accommodation and
subsistence
Event, publication and dissemination costs
Other direct costs
Premises
IT and office costs
Other staff costs
Insurance and professional fees
Other
Total costs (excluding staff costs)
Staff costs (universities)
Research Fellows and Research Associates
IFS staff costs (research)
IFS staff costs (events and dissemination)
IFS staff costs (research services)
IFS staff costs (central)
Total staff costs (including Fellows and
Associates)
Total expenditure
Allocation of support costs (including
governance)
Total expenditure		 1,581,355
-
-
-
1,581,355
176,444
-
-
-
176,444
233,814
-
-
-
233,814
2,149
-
-
-
2,149
362,100
-
-
68,287
430,387
197,584
-
-
-
197,584
-
-
-
676,742
676,742
-
-
-
609,917
609,917
-
-
-
159,551
159,551
-
-
55,370
313,305
368,675
-
-
-
83,437
83,437
2,553,446
-
55,370
1,911,239
4,520,055
790,989
-
-
-
790,989
64,583
-
-
-
64,583
855,572
-
-
-
855,572
4,326,995
31,840
24,330
-
4,383,164
-
46,071
-
513,476
559,547
-
8,868
-
168,499
177,367
-
2,975
22,848
438,459
464,282
4,326,995
89,753
47,178
1,120,434
5,584,360
5,182,567
89,753
47,178
1,120,434
6,439,932
7,736,013
89,753
102,548
3,031,673
10,959,987
3,118,675
15,546
(102,548)
(3,031,673)
-
10,854,688
105,299
-
-
10,959,987

Institute for Fiscal Studies

27

5

6. Expenditure

2025 Unrestricted
Restricted
2025 total
2024 total
£
£
£
£
Cost of raising funds
Direct costs (membership programme)
Staff costs (direct)
Support and governance costs (allocation)
Charitable activities
Project costs
Staff costs (total)
Support and governance costs (allocation)
Total expenditure		 -
-
-
-
99,999
-
99,999
89,753
20,098
-
20,098
15,546
120,097
-
120,097
105,299
478,402
2,543,202
3,021,604
2,553,446
1,157,607
5,366,657
6,524,264
6,350,179
426,940
1,979,288
2,406,228
1,951,063
2,062,949
9,889,147
11,952,096
10,854,688
2,183,046
9,889,147
12,072,193
10,959,987
Unrestricted
Restricted
2024 total
£
£
£
-
-
-
89,753
-
89,753
15,546
-
15,546
105,299
-
105,299
163,973
2,389,473
2,553,446
1,015,422
5,334,757
6,350,179
311,984
1,639,080
1,951,063
1,491,378
9,363,310
10,854,688
1,596,677
9,363,310
10,959,987
2024
Cost of raising funds
Direct costs (membership programme)
Staff costs (direct)
Support and governance costs (allocation)
Charitable activities
Project costs
Staff costs (total)
Support and governance costs (allocation)
Total expenditure

IFS initially identifies the costs of its support functions. It then identifies the costs that relate to governance. The remaining support costs together with the governance costs are apportioned between charitable activities and the cost of raising funds.

The cost of raising funds includes costs related to the IFS membership programme and costs related to activities focused on seeking funding. These include some direct costs and direct staff time, as well as an allocation of support costs. Support costs are allocated on the basis of staff time.

Governance costs include the costs of external audit. Other governance costs relate primarily to costs associated with the AGM and Annual Lecture and dinner. No expenses were claimed by the Trustees during the year (2024 £0).

Institute for Fiscal Studies

28

5

7. Net income

Net income is stated after charging:

2025 2024
£ £
Depreciation 60,659 34,527
Amortisation 34,877 46,502
- Audit fees 31,170 25,950
- Tax advisory services 1,801 -
Operating lease rentals
property		 624,154 409,453

Audit fees are stated net of VAT and disbursements.

8. Analysis of staff costs and key management personnel

2025
2024
£
£
Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Pension costs
Comprising:
Researchers
Support staff
IFS payroll staff
Staff costs (universities)
Research Fellow and Research Associate
payments		 5,072,782
4,794,853
613,952
508,577
291,080
280,930
5,977,815
5,584,360
4,677,722
4,383,164
1,300,092
1,201,196
5,977,815
5,584,360
596,031
790,989
50,417
64,583
6,624,263
6,439,932

IFS has agreements in place with several universities/institutions for the provision of an agreed proportion of the working time (typically 5 ~~4~~ 0%) of, during 2025, on average 11 (2024:12) named, highly skilled individuals to carry out specific research duties at IFS in their areas of academic excellence. In 2025, £50,000 (2024: £60,000) of the amount for Research Fellows and Research Associates relates to these individuals.

During 2025, 2025) and Helen Miller (from July 2025), and the Research Director, Professor Imran Rasul. In 2025, the total compensation for these key management personnel, including amounts due to universities under £501,984 (1.25 FTE) (2024: £612,734 (1.825 FTE)).

Institute for Fiscal Studies

29

5

8. Analysis of staff costs and key management personnel (cont.)

The numbers of employees whose emoluments (excluding pension contributions) were in excess of £60,000 are shown in the ranges below. In addition, pension contributions were paid by the Institute on behalf of these employees. The total sum of these contributions was £212,899 (for 36 employees) (2024: £214,505 (for 35 employees).

2025
2024
Number
Number
£60,001
£70,000
£70,001
£80,000
£80,001
£90,000
£90,001
£100,000
£100,001
£110,000
£110,001
£120,000
£120,001
£130,000
£130,001
£140,000
£150,001
£160,000
£160,001
£170,000
£260,001
£270,000		 6
13
12
6
4
6
4
5
6
2
1
0
0
1
1
0
1
1
1
0
0
1
36
35

9. Staff numbers

2025 FTE
Average
number
2024 FTE
Average
number
Research staff
Permanent contracts
Fixed-term contracts
Variable-hours contracts
Central staff
Events, publications, dissemination
Finance, HR, IT, central support
Research services
Total
Full-time
Part-time		 41.1
46.4
40.8
44.4
13.1
18.1
12.8
17.8
3.7
3.8
1.5
1.8
57.9
68.3
55.1
64.0
10.8
12.0
9.9
11.1
6.8
7.3
7.6
8.0
3.0
3.0
2.8
2.8
20.6
22.3
20.3
21.9
78.5
90.6
75.4
85.8
59.7
62.8
30.9
23.0

Institute for Fiscal Studies

30

5

10. Tangible fixed assets

Fixtures and Electronic Office Total
improvements hardware equipment
to short
leasehold
premises
£ £ £ £
Cost
At 1 January 2025 781,607 428,766 - 1,210,373
Additions 765,917 36,770 119,967 922,654
Disposals and assets no longer in use (781,607) (308,663) - (1,090,270)
At 31 December 2025 765,917 156,873 119,967 1,042,757
Depreciation
At 1 January 2025 781,607 381,214 - 1,162,821
Charge for the year 18,440 36,221 5,998 60,659
Disposals and assets no longer in use (781,607) (308,663) - (1,090,270)
At 31 December 2025 18,440 108,772 5,998 133,210
Net book value
As at 31 December 2025 747,477 48,101 113,969 909,547
As at 31 December 2024 - 47,552 - 47,552

11. Investments

2025
2024
£
£
Fair value at the start of the year
Additions at cost
Disposal proceeds
Net (loss)/gain in fair value
Fair value at the end of the year		 3,185,786
2,637,421
-
397,699
-
-
(62,112)
150,666
3,123,674
3,185,786

As at 31 December 2025,

Institute for Fiscal Studies

31

5

12. Intangible assets

IFS website Total
£ £
Cost
At 1 January 2025 139,508 139,508
At 31 December 2025 139,508 139,508
Amortisation
At 1 January 2025 104,631 104,631
Charge for the year 34,877 34,877
At 31 December 2025 139,508 139,508
Net book value
As at 31 December 2025 - -
As at 31 December 2024 34,877 34,877

13. Debtors

Unrestricted
Restricted
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
Accrued income
Trade debtors
Other debtors
Prepayments		 6,606
1,515,585
1,522,191
1,251,930
312,665
219,079
531,744
391,326
7,297
-
7,297
2
350,291
20,328
370,619
367,144
676,859
1,754,992
2,431,851
2,010,402

Institute for Fiscal Studies

32

5

14. Creditors

Unrestricted
Restricted
2025
2024
£
£
£
£
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade payables
Taxation and social security
VAT
Accruals
Other creditors
Deferred income
Balance at 1 January 2025
Amount released to income
Amount deferred in the year
Balance at 31 December 2025
Total creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
Amounts falling due after one year
Lease incentive
Total creditors: amounts falling due after one
year		 319,613
41,621
361,234
142,407
152,122
-
152,122
145,806
56,308
-
56,308
15,883
466,705
698,810
1,165,515
1,075,663
89,544
89,544
-
1,084,292
740,431
1,824,723
1,379,759
516,537
2,521,706
3,038,243
3,546,223
(441,470)
(1,981,769)
(2,423,239)
(3,123,853)
468,554
1,462,696
1,931,250
2,615,873
543,621
2,002,633
2,546,254
3,038,243
1,627,913
2,743,064
4,370,977
4,418,002
165,975
-
165,975
-
165,975
-
165,975
-

As at 31 December 2025, total deferred income was £2,546,254 (2024: £3,038,243). This includes amounts received on multi-year projects, where the timing of the related expenditure may be more than 12 months from the balance sheet date. A proportion of this deferred income will therefore not be released to income until 2026.

Included in accruals is a provision for dilapidations of £103,269 (2024: £233,113). The estimated future cost of dilapidations is reviewed annually and adjusted as appropriate.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

33

5

15. Analysis of movement in funds

2025 At 1 Jan
2025
Income
Expenditure
Net gains
on
investment
Transfers
At 31 Dec
2025
£
£
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General Fund
Fixed Asset Fund
Intangible Asset Fund
Restricted funds
Research funds
Total funds		 5,031,403
3,864,998
(2,183,046)
(62,112)
(1,499,675)
5,151,568
47,552
-
-
-
861,995
909,547
34,877
-
-
-
(34,877)
-
5,113,832
3,864,998
(2,183,046)
(62,112)
(672,557)
6,061,115
-
9,216,590
(9,889,147)
-
672,557
-
5,113,832
13,081,588
(12,072,193)
(62,112)
-
6,061,115
2024 At 1 Jan
2024
Income
Expenditure
Net gains
on
investment
Transfers
At 31 Dec
2024
£
£
£
£
£
£
Unrestricted funds
General Fund
Fixed Asset Fund
Intangible Asset Fund
Restricted funds
Research funds
Total funds		 4,408,501
2,491,056
(1,596,677)
150,666
(422,143)
5,031,403
62,800
-
-
-
(15,248)
47,552
81,379
-
-
-
(46,502)
34,877
4,552,680
2,491,056
(1,596,677)
150,666
(483,894)
5,113,832
-
8,879,416
(9,363,310)
-
483,894
-
4,552,680
11,370,472
(10,959,987)
150,666
-
5,113,832

Amounts have been transferred from the General Fund to restricted research funds to cover the overall deficit arising on the restricted research grants that completed during the year. This deficit was driven primarily by the effects of inflation on projects with multi-year budgets, and the lack of full overhead recovery on many of these projects.

Within restricted research funds are funds relating to projects where the agreement with the funder requests that the project funding is separately disclosed in the financial statements. During 2025, the income and expenditure on these grants was as set out below.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

34

5

2025

2025
Project name Funder Start date End date 2025 Accrued/(Deferred)
income income as at
31 Dec 2025
£ £
The Centre for Tax Analysis Foreign, 01/05/23 31/03/30 2,023,081 694,879
in Developing Countries Commonwealth
Phase 3 (TAXDEV III) & Development
Office
Pensions Commission Aberdeen Group 01/01/23 30/06/27 197,428 11,230
Charitable Trust
(registered
charity number
SC040877), under
charitable name,
abrdn Financial
Fairness Trust
Evaluating the Two-Child Nesta 01/12/22 31/08/25 20,698 (9,459)
Limit
Scottish Election Analysis The Robertson 01/11/25 31/05/26 0 (40,000)
Trust
Effects of Local The Health 02/09/24 31/08/26 67,357 (73,751)
Government Finance Foundation
Systems
2024
Project name Funder Start date End date 2024 Accrued/(Deferred)
income income as at
31 Dec 2024
£ £
The Centre for Tax Analysis Foreign, 01/05/23 31/03/30 1,625,946 436,010
in Developing Countries Commonwealth
Phase 3 (TAXDEV III) & Development
Office
Effects of Local The Health 02/09/24 31/03/26 10,296 (40,172)
Government Finance Foundation
Systems
Pensions Commission abrdn Financial 01/01/23 30/06/27 320,268 (46,198)
Fairness Trust
General Election Policy abrdn Financial 01/01/24 31/12/24 113,000 -
Proposal Analysis Fairness Trust
Evaluating the Two-Child Nesta 01/12/22 31/03/24 35,010 (5,156)
Limit
UK 2040: Options Nesta 01/06/23 30/04/24 29,869 -
Taxation and Public
Finance

Institute for Fiscal Studies

35

5

16. Analysis of net assets between funds

2025
2025
2025
2024
2024
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
£
£
£
Tangible fixed assets
Investments
Intangible assets
Cash at bank and in hand
Net current
assets/(liabilities)
Net assets at 31 Dec		 909,547
-
909,547
47,552
-
47,552
3,123,674
-
3,123,674
3,185,786
-
3,185,786
-
-
-
34,877
-
34,877
3,024,595
1,008,400
4,032,995
2,361,711
1,891,506
4,253,217
(996,701)
(1,008,400)
(2,005,101)
(516,094)
(1,891,506)
(2,407,600)
6,061,115
-
6,061,115
5,113,832
-
5,113,832

17. Operating lease commitments

The total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases is set out below for each of the following periods:

2025 2024
£ £
One year 367,500 449,630
Two to five years 2,197,952 1,830,452
After five years 3,135,329 3,858,750

18. Pension scheme

The total pension cost to IFS for contributions to employees pension schemes under IFS s group personal pension plans with Scottish Widows was £291,980 (2024: £280,930). In addition, two members of staff (2024: two) participated in other personal pension schemes, of their own choice, to which the Institute contributed £11,392 (2024: £15,319).

2025
2024
£
£
Scottish Widows
Other		 280,588
265,611
11,392
15,319
291,980
280,930

19. Related party transactions

No donations were received from Trustees and their spouses in the year (2024: £620).

20. Contingent assets

None.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

36

5

21. Committed costs

As at 31 December 2025, IFS had signed a service contract comprising implementation costs totalling £137k, which will be capitalised and depreciated over 10 years from go live in 2026. In addition, it is committed to licence costs totalling £167k over three years.

22. Comparative information: statement of financial activities for the year to 31 December 2024

Year ended 31 December 2024
2024
2024
Unrestricted
Restricted
Total
£
£
£
Income from:
Donations and legacies
Charitable activities
Investment income
Other income
Total income
Expenditure on:
Raising funds
Charitable activities
Total expenditure
Net income before net gains on
investment
Net gains on investment
Net income for the year
Transfers between funds
Net movement in funds
Reconciliation of funds:
Total funds brought forward
Total funds carried forward		 432,912
-
432,912
1,790,988
8,879,416
10,670,404
188,684
-
188,684
78,473
-
78,473
2,491,057
8,879,416
11,370,473
105,299
-
105,299
1,491,378
9,363,310
10,854,688
1,596,677
9,363,310
10,959,987
894,380
(483,894)
410,486
150,666
-
150,666
1,045,046
(483,894)
561,152
(483,894)
483,894
-
561,152
-
561,152
4,552,680
-
4,552,680
5,113,832
-
5,113,832

There were no other recognised gains or losses other than the net income for the year. All amounts relate to continuing operations.

Institute for Fiscal Studies

37