Blog

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.

06 Dec 2024

Gary Lineker Settles £4.9m Tax Dispute

HMRC has confirmed that it has settled the long-running IR35 tax case with Gary Lineker over a £4.9m tax liability on earnings from BBC and BT Sport presenting work.

20 Nov 2024

British Retail Consortium

The UK’s largest retailers have written to the Chancellor calling for an urgent meeting, warning significant hikes in employment costs cannot be absorbed with only five months’ notice.

20 Nov 2024

Farmers & Inheritance Tax (“IHT”)

20,000 farmers went London this week to protest against the abolition of inheritance tax relief (“APR”)for agricultural land. Organised by the National Farmers’ Union, the intention was to march to Westminster and back but due to the size of the crowd and safety concerns this was stopped.

18 Nov 2024

Grand Prix Scam

A fake hospitality company has been shut down by the Insolvency Service after selling £230,000 of fake British Grand Prix hospitality tickets.