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The pension challenges facing western governments are also confronting the world’s second most populous country. At what age should the state start to pay a pension? The question is a challenge to all governments, whether democratic or otherwise. There are … Continue reading →

BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS The main rate of class 1 employer national insurance contributions (NICs) will be increased from 13.8% to 15.0% with effect from 6 April 2025 and the secondary threshold at which employer NICs are payable will be reduced from … Continue reading →

We now have a clear understanding of how much the main State Pension will increase next April. That the State Pension triple lock was not going to change was a consistent commitment in the election manifestos of all major political … Continue reading →

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) publishes a review of the cash savings market following evidence of some dubious tactics at work. While the use of paper cash is declining as a means of payment, the need to retain a cash reserve … Continue reading →

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 … Continue reading →

Many chancellors ago, in November 2016, Philip Hammond announced an end to spring Budgets and their replacement with autumn Budgets. At the time it seemed a sensible idea to allow changes in tax to be legislated before the start of … Continue reading →

August saw the first cut in UK interest rates since March 2020. Source: Bank of England On 1 August, the Bank of England cut its bank rate by 0.25% to 5.00%, the first cut made since the early days of … Continue reading →

Will increased capital gains tax (CGT) mean less tax gets paid? Source HMRC The Labour Party’s 2024 manifesto said, ‘We will not increase National Insurance, the basic, higher, or additional rates of Income Tax, or VAT.’ The absence of any … Continue reading →

New data from HMRC show growing numbers of income taxpayers paying above the basic rate. Source: HMRC The club that all members want to leave, the income tax playing club, is gathering ever more members who are paying every greater … Continue reading →

New rules have come into force governing the claims made by sustainable funds. As sustainable investing has grown in popularity, the issue of ‘greenwashing’ has moved into the spotlight. However, investors, turned fund detectives, have discovered that funds with ‘sustainable’, … Continue reading →

‘Tick the Gift Aid’ box to boost your donation to charity and save some tax. The number of national and international calls on our goodwill to donate to causes has grown in the last few years. You are probably familiar … Continue reading →

Are student loans something to avoid? With the 2024/25 academic year on the horizon, student finance is again a hot topic for many parents. How hot differs slightly for the UK’s four nations as each has a subtly different way … Continue reading →

Autumn won’t leave much time for the new government to settle before important pension policy decisions need to be made. When MPs return to work after the summer recess, many areas of policy will require attention. Some are inheritances from … Continue reading →