Why we all need to invest in tax planning

HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC have one clear objective, to recover past government expenditure and then recycle the cash collected to repay government borrowing and release funds for future expenditure. To do this, HMRC are obliged to assess taxes by adopting the current legislation to collect taxes from individuals and businesses. Fundamentally, HMRC base their […]

More delays contacting HMRC?

HMRC have announced that they will be focussing the use of its Self-Assessment helpline on priority queries from 11 December 2023 to 31 January 2024. Taxpayers calling with queries that can be quickly and easily resolved online will be directed to HMRC’s online services from 11 December until the SA deadline on 31 January. The […]

Called HMRC recently?

Call queues are becoming a unwelcome feature of communicating with HMRC. In a recent post on the GOV.UK newsfeed a new strategy is emerging. As you would expect, it steers taxpayers towards their online accounts or other information posted online by HMRC. We may be heading for a completely impersonal approach to handle communications between […]

Pubs to open longer if UK nations reach Euros semis

In a potentially welcome announced for the hospitality industry in England and Wales, the government has set out plans to extend licensing hours for the semi-finals and final of the men’s European Football Championships next year, should England, Wales or Scotland reach the final stages of the tournament. In a public consultation launched 27 November […]

Winter support for pensioners

Pensioners across the country have started to receive up to £600 to help with energy bills this winter. Winter Fuel Payments – boosted again this year by an additional £300 per household Pensioner Cost of Living payment – will land in bank accounts over the next two months, the vast majority automatically. The money will […]

Due a student loan refund?

Student Loans are part of the government's financial support package for students in higher education in the UK. They are available to help students meet their expenses while they are studying, and it is HMRC’s responsibility to collect repayments where the borrower is working in the UK. The Student Loans Company (SLC) is directly responsible […]