After playing a crucial part in managing the impact of Covid-19, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is set to end on 30 September. Although some business sectors, such as hospitality, are currently seeing severe…
No room for giveaways in OBR risk report
The Office for Budget Responsibility has given Rishi Sunak its new worry list. It gives the Chancellor little wriggle-room for potential Budget generosity. Every other year the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) must issue a…
Scammers step-up sophisticated frauds
One side effect of the pandemic has been a surge in scams, with around £535 million reported as lost to investment fraud in the year to April 2021. One investment scam involving a retired detective…
HMRC: Upper Tribunal deems child benefit discovery assessments invalid
A discovery assessment can be made by HMRC where income, which should have been assessed, has not been assessed for tax purposes. A recent decision in an Upper Tribunal case, however, found that neither child…
Probate fees reform, round three
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…