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Pension Triple Lock Reform Breaks Out

Pension Triple Lock Reform Breaks Out

The state pension triple lock has become a cornerstone of UK retirement planning, but it is now set to be adjusted under new government proposals. As the political landscape shifts, understanding these changes is vital for anyone planning their financial future....

Gilty Secrets: Understanding the UK Bonds Market

Gilty Secrets: Understanding the UK Bonds Market

Gilts have featured prominently in financial news of late, but how much do you really know about how they operate? As key components of the broader financial ecosystem, understanding gilts is essential for every well-informed investor. (Source: OBR) What Are UK Gilts?...

Tax Relief from HMRC: A Genuine Offer

Tax Relief from HMRC: A Genuine Offer

HMRC is currently writing to over a million people offering them tax relief. While the phrase “make a pension contribution and you get tax relief” sounds straightforward, the underlying mechanics are a bit more complex. Receiving an unexpected letter from HMRC...

CGT: A Pot of Gold at the End of the Treasury Rainbow?

CGT: A Pot of Gold at the End of the Treasury Rainbow?

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a frequent target for Chancellors looking to boost Treasury revenues ahead of a Budget. Over the last few years, the threat of tax hikes has firmly materialised into significant policy shifts that directly impact investors and their wealth....

Pension tax-free cash: don’t let Budget rumours rush your decision

Pension tax-free cash: don’t let Budget rumours rush your decision

The tax-free lump sum offered by most pension arrangements steps back into the spotlight as the Autumn Budget nears. A Brief History of the Pension Commencement Lump Sum (PCLS) “Anomalous, but much loved” was how one Chancellor, the late Nigel Lawson, described the...

A fresh bloom on company cars

A fresh bloom on company cars

Updated figures from HMRC reveal greener company cars are surging in popularity. Source: HMRC The Changing Landscape of Company Car Ownership This summer’s slew of statistics on income tax issued by HMRC revealed an interesting picture of how company car ownership has...

Personal allowance freeze or stealth tax hiding in plain sight?

Personal allowance freeze or stealth tax hiding in plain sight?

How much would it cost to increase the income tax personal allowance? Source: HMRC, ONS. Assumes annual CPI inflation 2% from September 2026 The personal allowance is the amount of income that you can receive free of income tax. Since 2010, the personal allowance has...

Another chapter begins for long-term care in England

Another chapter begins for long-term care in England

Andy Burnham has plans to deal with long-term care in England. A Look Back to 2010 In March 2010, during the dying days of Gordon’s Brown’s Labour government, Andy Burnham was the Health Secretary. In that role, he published a White Paper on social care reform in...

Healey sets a pre-Halloween Autumn Budget

Healey sets a pre-Halloween Autumn Budget

he Autumn Budget date has now been set for 28 October, with the new Chancellor facing some familiar challenges. Setting the Date At the end of a fortnight heavily laden with announcements from Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his revised cabinet, what may prove to be...

The Treasury Committee wades into the debate about student loans

The Treasury Committee wades into the debate about student loans

The House of Commons Treasury Committee has published a critical report on the operation of student loans. Earlier this year the Department for Education (DfE) announced a 6% interest cap on Plan 2 student loans for one year from September 2026. The DfE press release...

Unmarried couples: major legal reforms proposed

Unmarried couples: major legal reforms proposed

The law in England and Wales is moving a step closer to treating married and unmarried couples in a similar way. “Over 3.5 million couples live together without getting married or entering a civil partnership, a number that has more than doubled over the past three...

The £59.2 Billion Unpaid Tax Hole

The £59.2 Billion Unpaid Tax Hole

New research from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has placed an uncomfortably large figure on the estimated amount of unpaid tax in the UK. At £59.2 billion, the outstanding amount is a serious sum of money—equating to roughly £850 a head for every man, woman, and...