HMRC late payment interest rates have now been raised six times during 2022 – from 2.6% at the start of the year to a current rate of 4.25%. However, at least there’s some good news,…
Getting in touch: HMRC’s new email facility
Although there is no general facility to contact HMRC by email, it is slowly moving into the 21st century by providing the option to receive an email response. But of course, this comes with a…
Chancellor’s May economy statement: all about energy
In late May, the Chancellor announced new measures to counter the rising cost of living, in particular energy prices. Initial measures for 2022 In early February 2022, the Chancellor announced a package of measures to…
Zero rated food confusion
The distinction between zero-rated food and standard VAT confectionery is a crucial, and complex, one – not helped by what may appear to be apparently arbitrary rulings. Despite its predecessor losing a notorious ruling over…
Sharp rise in higher rate taxpayer numbers…….
......and if that’s you, then advice is now more important than ever. There was once a time when paying tax at more than the basic rate made you a member of a somewhat select club.…
A new breed of digital nomad
The pandemic has freed many workers from the confines of the office, leading to the emergence of a new breed of digital nomad – people who can take their laptop, jump on a plane and…
Student loan rule changes from 2023
Around three quarters of those students who started full-time undergraduate degrees in 2020/21 are not expected to fully repay their student loans. However, changes starting with the 2023 student cohort will see many paying more,…
Sick pay rebate returns to help relieve pressure on businesses
The Statutory Sick Pay Rebate Scheme (SSPRS), which ended on 30 September 2021, was reintroduced from 21 December 2021, with employers able to make retrospective claims from mid-January. The scheme’s return is in response to…
Freeports up and running
The first eight Freeport designated tax sites have now opened in Teesside, Humber and Thames. Freeports and their tax sites benefit from various incentives and tax breaks, but it remains uncertain whether they will provide…
Universal Credit eligibility expands to higher rate taxpayers
Autumn Budget reforms have created a surprising clash of benefits and income tax. The Covid-19 pandemic was the first time many people utilised Universal Credit (UC) for the first time – between February and May…