My brother-in-law John Wilkins, who has died aged 85, was an accountant who helped shape the introduction of VAT to the UK in the mid-1970s and succeeded in substantially reducing the potential amount of paperwork involved. As a specialist in VAT, he advised the European Economic and Social Committee, in Brussels, from 1996 to 2002.
John was born in Hackney, north-east London. His father, Thomas, died when John was seven, leaving his mother, Amy, with three young children to bring up on a modest secretarial income. John went to Ilford county high school, Essex, and won a scholarship to King's College, Cambridge, where he gained a first-class degree in classics.
His time at university was interrupted by the second world war, during which he delivered ammunition to British army bases throughout the Rimini region, in Italy. After graduating, he took a job with the civil service as a tax inspector. He married an art student, Josephine, who shared his passion for bright colours. John loved to wear flamboyant clothes.
They lived in Somerset and Wiltshire for 20 years. John taught himself woodwork and made much of the furniture for their home. He and Josephine joined rambling clubs and regularly walked up to 20 miles – sometimes a lot longer when they got lost. They often went on walking holidays in Europe. John did not believe much in booking ahead. He and Josephine would arrive at a village in Yugoslavia at nightfall and ask if there was anyone with a spare bed. They were always lucky, although on one occasion they ended up sleeping in bunks attached to a military training establishment.
John's various hobbies included sailing and playing the clarinet. He was an accomplished sailor, but after struggling with the instrument for two years, decided that he had lost the battle with the clarinet – much to Josephine's relief.
After leaving the civil service, he became an accountant with the Association of British Insurers in London, before becoming a VAT specialist at the Confederation of British Industry.
He retired in 1990 and enjoyed gardening, digging a big fishpond which prospered. In his usual thorough style, he studied how to raise fish. His holidays were planned around the availability of suitable goldfish carers. The goldfish multiplied from four to more than 60 and were a source of great pride and satisfaction for him.
He is survived by Josephine and his nieces, Janet and Lucy.