The reductions to the annual allowance and lifetime allowance from 2014/15 were re-affirmed in the Budget. The Chancellor also confirmed that you will have a choice of two transitional protections if the lower lifetime allowance of £1.25 million could affect … Continue reading →

The Government’s financial watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), has cast its own gloomy light on the Budget. The OBR has the job of performing an independent check of the Chancellor’s budgetary numbers, albeit with plenty of assistance from … Continue reading →

There was one change and one threat on the venture capital front in the 20 March Budget announcement. For Seed Enterprise Investment Schemes (SEIS), the CGT reinvestment relief continues for 2013/14, but for only half the reinvested gain. Therefore, the … Continue reading →

As announced in the Autumn Statement 2012, legislation introduced in the Finance Bill 2013 came into force on 26th March 2013.  This will increase the capped drawdown limit for pensioners of all ages  from 100% to 120% of the value … Continue reading →

The pound has taken a beating since the start of the year. The graph says it all: the pound has had a grim two months against most major currencies. It has risen against the Japanese Yen only because the new … Continue reading →