HMRC has lowered the interest charged on late self assessment tax payments, reducing the rate from 8% to 7.75%. The change reflects the link between late payment interest and the Bank of England base rate. Taxpayers who miss the 31 January deadline still face fixed penalties, followed by daily charges and further percentage-based penalties if...
Financial advisers expect an increase in marriages among older couples ahead of planned inheritance tax changes. From April 2027, pensions will be included within inheritance tax calculations, potentially increasing the tax burden on families. Married couples and civil partners can combine allowances, allowing significant sums to be passed on tax-free, including additional relief linked to...
With many people selling unwanted Christmas gifts online, questions have arisen about whether HMRC will step in. Tax specialists have clarified that individuals selling personal items occasionally are not the target of HMRC’s compliance activity. The focus remains on those trading regularly as part of the hidden economy. In most cases, selling personal possessions is...
The US economy expanded faster than expected in the third quarter, driven by strong consumer spending, exports and government investment. Official figures show growth exceeded forecasts despite a slowdown in business investment. Inflation also picked up during the period, highlighting ongoing pressure on prices even as economic activity remained robust. Disclaimer The information on...
The government has confirmed that inheritance tax relief for farmers will increase, lifting the threshold from £1m to £2.5m. The move follows widespread concern within the farming community, with concern raised over plans set out in last year’s Budget that would see a 20% tax on inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m as of...
A salary sacrifice pension is a tax-efficient arrangement where an employee agrees to give up part of their salary, and in return, the employer pays that amount directly into the employee’s pension. Instead of being paid as cash income, the contribution goes straight into the pension pot, which can reduce both income tax and National...
The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) has raised concerns that provisions included in the Finance Bill 2025–26 are drafted too broadly and could have unintended consequences for tax advisers. The legislation expands the dishonest conduct rules for tax agents, introducing penalties where actions are taken with the intention of reducing tax...
The Financial Conduct Authority has opened a consultation on a new regulatory framework for crypto-assets, aiming to align them more closely with rules that apply to traditional financial products. The proposals are based on policy plans first published in 2023 and would bring crypto-assets under FCA supervision in a similar way to shares and other...
The Solicitors Regulation Authority has proposed new measures to strengthen protections around client money held by law firms. Under the plans, firms would be required to submit all accountants’ reports directly to the regulator and provide an annual declaration confirming compliance. This approach was previously in place until 2014, after which only reports highlighting concerns...
The HMRC trust registration deadline is a critical compliance requirement for trustees across the UK. Recently, HMRC has confirmed that it will not extend the end-of-year deadline for trust registration, despite growing concerns from advisers and trustees. However, there is some reassurance: HMRC has stated that it will consider ‘reasonable excuses’ where deadlines are missed...
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Copyright by CareAccountancy. All rights reserved.
