Raising tax rates is a traditional government strategy to increase tax receipts for HMRC, but this may not be the case for capital gains tax (CGT). This is because taxpayers generally have more control over when gains are realised. The upcoming Budget at the end of October is widely expected to see a hike in […]
With a ‘black hole’ of £22 billion to fill, there are plenty of groups giving Rachel Reeves advice. The Fabian Society published a report on taxation on August Bank Holiday Monday. While their main audience is in Scotland, which has its summer bank holiday at the start of August rather than at the end, the […]
With around 670,000 child trust fund (CTF) accounts sitting unclaimed by Generation Z adults aged between 18 and 22, HMRC is concerned. CTFs were opened for every child born between 1 September 2002 and 2 January 2011, with each account started off with a £250 voucher (£500 for low-income families). A similar amount was added […]
The missing element in pensions change Promised adjustments to pension law are missing a key element: increasing minimum contribution levels. The first King’s Speech of the new parliament in July contained proposals for 40 new bills, covering everything from football governance to cyber security. One familiar item on the list was a Pension Schemes Bill. […]
HMRC has launched a new digital tool to help businesses estimate the potential impact of their VAT registration. This will be useful for established business owners and those planning to start a business. VAT registration Registration for VAT is required if a business’s taxable turnover (including zero-rated sales) exceeds £90,000 for the previous 12 months […]
While only briefly mentioned in the King’s Speech, the government has now revealed more details of the Renters’ Rights Bill. The Bill will overhaul the private rented sector in England, with some elements also applicable to Wales. Labour’s election manifesto promised to immediately banish no-fault evictions, but this hasn’t happened. Instead, no-fault evictions will be […]
In her first detailed tax announcements as Chancellor, Rachel Reeves targeted both those starting off in life and those approaching the end of their lives. School fees From 1 January 2025, private school fees will be subject to the standard rate of 20% VAT for the cost of tuition and boarding, if provided. A private […]
The number of taxpayers caught in the 60% tax trap has increased by nearly 25% over the past year. More than 500,000 people are now affected by higher tax rates due to their income exceeding £100,000. The 60% rate applies to income between £100,000 and £125,140. This is the tranche of income which sees the […]
The date of the next Budget has been announced, accompanied by the new Chancellor’s warning about government finances. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first announcement on entering 11 Downing Street was the commissioning of a ‘spending inheritance’ review from the Treasury. Her decision to do so was questioned by the opposition (Conservatives), among others, who argued that […]
HMRC is warning iPhone users about a new wave of scam text messages claiming to be about tax refunds. Unlike most spam texts, these reportedly cannot be blocked by iPhones or reported to the usual Ofcom anti-spam number. The scam messages are targeted solely at the owners of Apple devices and claim that the recipient […]