News

The government has rejected proposals to modernise cohabitation laws in England and Wales, leaving it up to individuals to arrange their financial affairs for partners and dependents.   In August, the House of Commons Women and Equalities Committee published The rights … Continue reading →

The new Chancellor’s Autumn Statement has increased the tax bill for many investors.   In his Autumn Statement, the Chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, said that in making decisions on tax the government followed a broad principle that “we ask those with more … Continue reading →

A growing number of taxpayers are being caught by the personal allowance taper, which will be exacerbated by the reduced additional rate tax threshold of £125,140. With many also questioning why the new threshold is not a round number, a … Continue reading →

Why not consider a different kind of gift for your children or grandchildren this Christmas – perhaps one with a financial twist?  According to a prediction made by Hamleys in October, among some of the top bestselling toys this Christmas … Continue reading →

The rapid unwinding of most of September’s so-called mini-Budget has important implications. Gone are the days when a Chancellor made only two set piece announcements each year and, for the remaining days of the year, tax remained generally out of … Continue reading →

Annual CPI inflation hit 10.1% in September, but that does not mean every price is showing a double-digit increase. Source: ONS The September Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation reading is probably the most important inflation metric in a given year. … Continue reading →

HIGHLIGHTS The main income tax allowances and thresholds, the main national insurance thresholds plus the inheritance tax nil rate bands will stay at their current levels for an extra two years to April 2028. The threshold for the 45% additional … Continue reading →

Government bonds, often called gilts, are traditionally dull investments. However, as recent events highlighted, they are an important part of the financial landscape. Gilt-edged securities (gilts) earned their name in a bygone, pre-electronic era, when they were issued as certificates … Continue reading →

The latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that more people than ever are working beyond age 65. Source: ONS 9/2022. One of the stranger economic statistics of recent times has been the strength of employment markets … Continue reading →

There are many simple ways to cut expenditure and ease the bite of inflation. Source: ONS. The peak reading for inflation is likely to have been changed by the government’s September decision to introduce a ‘price cap’ of £2,500 on … Continue reading →