Blog

29 Aug 2025

Treasury toys with idea of charging National Insurance on rental income

Landlords could be hit with a national insurance (NI) levy on rental income in the Autumn Budget if the latest rumours about Treasury proposals are to be believed.

28 Aug 2025

Higher rate taxpayers face tougher checks on claims for pension relief

HMRC says a third of claims for personal pension relief by higher rate taxpayers are incorrect with numerous ineligible claims, mistaken calculations and some not even knowing how much they paid into their pension.

13 Aug 2025

HMRC has set a deadline of mid-September for pensioners to opt out of winter fuel payments to avoid tax clawback of whole amount

After the Chancellor u-turned on winter fuel payments for the 2025-26 winter period after intense pressure, some complicated new rules came into place which mean only pensioners with less than £35,000 in total taxable income will qualify for the benefit in future, and there are crucial opt out provisions.

31 Jul 2025

HMRC Letters

Despite HMRC claiming to be reducing the amount of post it sends, it is gearing up to send 1.4m letters to those not paying taxes through PAYE or self-assessment.

10 Jun 2025

Winter Fuel Payments

A majority of pensioners will now receive a Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) with claw back made for those above a new income threshold of £35,000 as Rachel (the Reaper) Reeves confirms a major policy U-turn.

16 Apr 2025

Lynch vs HMRC

A multimillionaire lost an appeal over use of a historic tax avoidance scheme, and his claim that the high income child benefit charge (“HICBC”) interfered with the ‘enjoyment of his money’ was rejected.

08 Apr 2025

Chartered accountant jailed after spending £1.7m that should have gone to HMRC

Kenneth Scott FCA, 69, managing partner of Willis Scott Group (“WSG”), based in Durham, has been jailed for four years after siphoning VAT that he had charged his clients into his own personal funds, and stealing from his own staff.

01 Apr 2025

Spring 2025 Tax Briefing

The Government has announced plans to increase the threshold above which income from self-employment must be reported via self assessment.

27 Mar 2025

Ant & Emilie Middleton Struck Off as Directors: Company Went Bust

This week’s press has been alive with this celebrity story. Middleton, 44, who was lead instructor on the Channel 4 TV show SAS: Who Dares Wins for five years to March 2021, has been banned as a director after his Sway and Starting Limited (“S&S”), run with his wife and co-director Emilie Middleton, collapsed owing millions of pounds and £1,136,794 in unpaid corporation tax and VAT.

26 Mar 2025

Deadline for buying National Insurance Years draws near.

Back in April 2016, the introduction of the new state pension stipulated that people need to have 35 qualifying years on their National Insurance record to gain a full state pension.

10 Mar 2025

Hair Transplants - to VAT or not to VAT?

Advanced Hair Technology (AHT), a clinic in Harley Street, London, appealed against three decisions HMRC made for £2,498,232 in VAT and £374,734 in penalties.

09 Dec 2024

The 60% Income Tax Trap

The effective income tax rate in the UK (excluding Scotland) for those earning £100,000 to £125,140 is 60% -because they lose their personal allowance of £12,570 at the rate of £1 for every £2 of adjusted net income above £100,000.