2020/21 is drawing to a close, with a Budget now scheduled for early March. Ahead of that, HMRC is easing some of the traditional deadlines in the light of the ongoing pandemic. If you’re struggling to prepare your self-assessment tax return due to the effects of the pandemic, you may get some relief. It has […]
The main state pensions will rise by 2.5% in April. The absence of an autumn Budget in 2020 meant that there was no formal announcement of the level of state pensions from April 2021. The numbers eventually emerged on 8 December in a press release from the Department for Work and Pensions: The new […]
From February new rules apply if you choose pension drawdown but do so without taking advice. The Covid-19 pandemic has deferred many events of all sizes, from the Tokyo Olympics to millions of foreign holidays. One of the less prominent delays has been a change to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules on pension […]
An independent body of tax experts has set out the framework for a one-off wealth tax. Will the Chancellor be tempted? “[We] have a responsibility, once the economy recovers, to return to a sustainable fiscal position.” …said the Chancellor Rishi Sunak in his November statement, during which he also highlighted that the government was spending […]
Action Fraud is warning the public to remain vigilant as criminals begin to take advantage of the roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine to commit fraud. As of 7 January 2021, Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, had received 57 reports in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine. Pauline Smith, Head […]
As the third Covid-19 lockdown took effect on 5 January 2021, the Chancellor announced a further £4.6 billion in grants to the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors. This new round of support follows extensions to the job retention and loan schemes revealed on 17 December 2020. There may be more to come with the Budget […]
