At the beginning of March, Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented his Budget. His aim: to chart a course out of the economic damage wrought by the pandemic. A year earlier he had said he would do “whatever it takes” to protect jobs and businesses. Twelve months on, with Government borrowing breaking all records, it is clear… 
As we proceed into the new tax year, it’s a reminder to check your Tax Code! HMRC published updated codes for this tax year on the 6th April 2021. According to research carried out by Intuit QuickBooks UK in 2019, in the previous year approximately 14.3 million people across the UK paid too much tax…
In the Techie Stuff section of this Newsletter, I highlight an article in which HMRC encourages taxpayers ‘to sign up for a tax break this year’. On this occasion they are talking about Income Tax and personal allowances, but the article is a timely nudge for you to consider all tax breaks that could be…
Last year, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Inheritance & Intergenerational Fairness published a report, Reform of Inheritance Tax, with two major recommendations for the government to reform the UK’s current inheritance tax (IHT) regime. The report calls for the introduction of a flat-rate gift tax, which would replace the current IHT system’s array of reliefs…
The Romans dedicated January to their god Janus – god of Endings, Transitions, and new Beginnings. He is depicted with two faces since he looks back to learn from the past and the year that has just ended (Endings) and, having taken stock of changes and new considerations that have arisen (Transitions), he looks forward…
Oddly, those thoughts came into my mind yet again when I read the many commentaries and predictions both before and after the Chancellor’s Spending Review last month. Inter alia: Capital Gains Tax – will it be brought into line with Income Tax and/or will rates be be raised to help cover covid-driven government spending? Income…
You and I know that life is not all plain sailing but, as far as financial planning is concerned, if you plan ahead you can maximise your resources for your future income and capital needs and for those of your family – and reduce the risks while on life’s journey. We call it Lifetime Financial…
Covid-19 has changed the way most financial planners, we included, are able to deliver advice – at least for the time being. At the drop of a hat, the industry has had to embrace years’ worth of technological innovation so that we could continue to provide our services to you during a tumultuous time. The…
At the moment, only those who are married or who are registered civil partners are exempt from paying inheritance tax (IHT) on money or property left to them by their spouse. This was expanded to include heterosexual civil partnerships at the end of 2019. But the law does not cover people, e.g. siblings, who are…
How often have you heard us say that! You and I know that life is not all plain sailing but, as far as financial planning is concerned, if you plan ahead you can maximise your resources for your future income and capital needs and for those of your family – and reduce the risks while…