The Government’s third attempt at revamping the cost of obtaining grant of probate in England and Wales is much more modest in scope than the previous two. The introduction of the new fee structure is…
Changes afoot for Basis period tax rules
Although it looks like the next Budget will be pushed back to spring 2022, several tax changes are already on the cards, some more certain than others. The government’s fast progress with reform of the…
MTD income tax pilot
The pilot scheme for Making Tax Digital (MTD) for income tax is now open for self-employed workers and landlords. The scheme becomes mandatory for accounting periods commencing on or after 6 April 2023, so those…
What is an adequate retirement income?
A leading pension think tank has examined this question – but the findings aren’t straightforward. Over the years, there has been much focus on the tax treatment of pensions and ways to encourage greater saving…
Leasehold shake-up on the horizon
Ground rents for residential properties on long leases in England and Wales will soon be abolished, with further reform to follow. This first step in the government’s plan to reform leasehold law affects new leases.…
IR35: The Question of Control
The off-payroll working (IR35) tests are still relevant despite the blanket approach often in place regarding contractors’ employment status. They must always be applied if you are contracting for a small organisation. Two recent decisions…
Bounce Back Loans – Repayment Options
The bounce back loan scheme (BBLS) has kept many businesses afloat over the past year, but, with the first repayments now starting to become due, many of the 1.5 million businesses that borrowed money could…
Focus on national insurance contributions
New government proposals target the promoters of national insurance contribution (NIC) avoidance schemes, while plans are in place to introduce a zero rate of employer contributions in Freeports. Both measures are included in the National…
The future of capital gains tax takes shape
A recently released report on capital gains tax (CGT) by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has made several recommendations on the future of a tax, about which it says many people have limited awareness…
Unhappy families – challenging inheritance issues
The outcome of a recent High Court case is a warning for anyone challenging a will. As inheritances become more valuable, the number of disputes about wills have increased. Court cases rose by almost 50% to 188 in 2019 compared to…