HL, Quilter and AJ Bell CEOs urge Reeves to reconsider IHT on pensions

The chancellor, Rachel Reeves, announced at the Budget last October that some pensions will be liable to inheritance tax upon death from April 2027. The CEOs of four of the UK’s biggest providers have written to the chancellor urging her to rethink the government’s ‘flawed and damaging’ policy of levying inheritance tax (IHT) on pensions from 2027, Citywire New Model …

UK inflation lowers to 2.5% in December

Down from 2.6% in November The UK Consumer Prices Index (CPI) dropped to 2.5% in December, below FactSet’s consensus of 2.8% for the month. According to data from the Office for National Statistics today (15 January), the downward trend was driven by restaurants and hotels, with the latter recording a 1.9% decline in prices over the month, as opposed to …

Gilt yield drama makes rising annuity rates ‘hard to ignore’

Dramatic spike in government borrowing costs January started in dramatic fashion for government borrowing with a significant cost spike which saw the 15-year gilt yield standing at 5.17%, compared to 4.23% on the same date the previous year. Uncertainty about the performance of the UK economy and the ramifications for inflation after Donald Trump returns to the White House are …

IHT receipts surge to £4.3bn in first half of 2024, £400m higher than last year

Ahead of next weeks’ Autumn Budget Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts have hit £4.3bn in the six months from April to September 2024, according to figures published by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This is £400m higher than the same period in the previous tax year and continues the upward trajectory over the last two decades. Higher receipts from March 2022 …

Below-expected inflation paves the way for two interest rate cuts this year

September marks the first-time inflation has been below the Bank of England’s 2% target since April 2021. CPI inflation has fallen from 2.2% in August to 1.7% in September, below the Bank of England’s 2% target and below economists’ forecasts of 1.9%. After hitting the Bank of England’s 2.0% target in May and June, inflation rose to 2.2% in July …

Inheritance tax receipts hit £2.8 billion in first four months of the year – Industry Reaction

Inheritance Tax receipts for April 2024 to July 2024 are £2.8 billion, which is £0.2 billion higher than the same period last year, HM Revenue and Customs revealed today. Following the release of this data, industry experts have shared their thoughts with IFA Magazine. Laura Hayward, Tax Partner at professional services and wealth management firm Evelyn Partners, says: “Annual rises …