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Spring Budget 2023 Summary
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has unveiled his ‘Back to Work’ March Budget. Here is a summary of some of the key points. The OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) has said that the UK will not enter recession this year. Inflation is set to fall to 2.9% by the end of the year. Corporation Tax…
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Dealing With Inflation
Both households and businesses are feeling the effects of inflation as it has reached 11.1% in the 12 months to October 2022. Optimistically, the rate is expected to fall from mid-2023. How is it possible to avoid the most damaging effects? Inflation is the increase in prices over a year and is calculated by…
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Making Tax Digital Regulations
The new MDT regulations have now been published. To summarise: Once you have reached your digital start date you have to continue to keep digital records and file these quarterly, regardless of turnover. Transactions need only be recorded with enough information to meet the quarterly deadline. Recording Cash or Accruals? The regulations state that digital…
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Budget Summary
The Chancellor of the Exchequer announced his Budget on Wednesday. In case you missed the main points they are: Giving money away: More money for almost every government department. Increased capital allowances for business. Cheaper beer. Reduced internal Air Passenger Duty. More Universal Credit where people are working. Rate relief on hospitality and retail. Better…
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Changes to Capital Gains Tax on Private Residences
Since April 2020 there have been two phases of changes to the tax paid on residential property sales. The idea is to increase the tax paid from the disposal of residential property and collect this tax much more quickly. For personal taxpayer capital gains tax (CGT) is paid between 10 months and 22 months after…
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January 2019 Record Tax Revenue
The Treasury has been given a boost after official figures showed the Government recorded its largest January budget surplus, as they enjoyed a bumper haul of tax receipts. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that public finances were in surplus by £14.9 billion last month, the largest January total since records began in…
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High Income Child Benefit Charge
The High Income Child Benefit Charge (HICBC) is a tax charge which applies where the ‘adjusted net income’ of a taxpayer or their partner is more than £50,000 in a tax year, and they or their partner receive child benefit. The charge is equal to one per cent of a family’s Child Benefit for every…
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The End of Austerity – Autumn Budget 2018
Continuing our commitment to keep you informed about government decisions which influence your finances, here is our summary of the Budget announced on 29 October. The Prime Minister has announced the end of austerity but Chancellor Philip Hammond wants to keep a tight rein on the country’s finances, especially with the unknown consequences of Brexit.…
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Can Giving Away Shares Be Tax Efficient?
In the 1980s and 1990s a wide range of companies were privatised and gave many people a few shares which produce very small annual dividends. They can be seen are more trouble than they are worth, so what can be done with them? The shares could be sold but you will need a broker and…
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2018 Spring Statement Summary
We always try to keep you up-to-date with the latest changes which could affect you, so here is our summary of the Chancellor’s statement issues recently. Mr. Hammond commented that UK economic growth remains disappointing, now forecast at 1.5% growth. In addition, inflation at 3% in January was above the government’s target. However, with the…
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Changes to Buy To Let Tax Rules
If you are a higher-rate taxpayer you can no longer offset all your mortgage interest against rental income before calculating the tax due. This will lead to higher tax bills even if you have not seen your income increase. The reduction in relief is being phased in between now and 2020 and will be replaced…
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Making Tax Digital or MTD
You may have heard or seen stories relating to some major changes that have been proposed by the government and H M Revenue and Customs. So what is MTD? It is a bold and innovative initiative to bring the UK tax system up to date for the new digital age, or so ‘they’ say. They…