‘IHT is the tax gift that keeps on giving as record receipts have been banked’ New inheritance tax (IHT) data published today (23 April) shows the government raked in a total of £7.5bn in 2023/24 – a £4m increase on the tax year prior. This represents the highest value ever recorded and continues the upward trend of the last two …
Ex-footballers join pension scam victims in HMRC campaign
Campaigners have called for an end to the taxman’s perceived harsh tax collection tactics as victims of financial misconduct recount ‘sleepless nights’ waiting for brown envelopes. Former Premier League footballers joined forces with fellow victims of financial misconduct yesterday to campaign for better treatment from HMRC. Figures including Andy Cole, Michael Thomas, Craig Short and Martin O’Neil marched from the …
UK inflation drops less than expected to 3.2%
Food price rises are slowing but rate cut decision still several months away if figures remain where they are. UK consumer prices index (CPI) inflation slowed less than expected to 3.2% in March, raising the prospect that a rate cut will take longer than predicted. Although the March figure is the smallest monthly inflation rise for two-and-a-half years, it is …
Up to 1.6 million more pensioners to pay income tax by 2028
Frozen income tax thresholds will see up to 1.6m more pensioners breaching the £12,570 personal tax threshold by 2028, research suggests. As many as 1.6 million more pensioners will be paying income tax within the next four years due to frozen tax thresholds and the rising value of the state pension, according to the Telegraph. Analysis for the House of …
Bank of England votes 8-1 to hold interest rates at 5.25%
The Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee has held rates for a fifth consecutive time. The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee has voted 8-1 to maintain Bank Rate at 5.25%. One member voted to reduce Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 5%. Interest rates have now been at 5.25% since August 2023, with many economists predicting that rates will begin …
UK inflation falls to 3.4%
Inflation came in below economists’ forecasts of 3.5%. UK inflation has fallen to the lowest level seen since September 2021, with the annual rate falling from 4.0% in December and January to 3.4% in February. The ONS data shows that core CPI inflation (stripping out energy, food, alcohol and tobacco) was 4.5%, down from 5.1% in January, while food inflation …