Paying for England’s social care reforms
In September, the government revealed its long-awaited plans to reform England’s funding of social care, but many home care residents won’t reap the benefits.…
Widening gender pension gap with a Covid-19 twist
New research has highlighted a growing retirement income gap between men and women, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic. According to the Office…
Minimum pension age steps closer to 57
Pension Age – The government has published draft legislation to raise the minimum age for drawing pension benefits from 55 to 57. At present,…
Tax Year: So, farewell then 6 April?
The UK’s unusual tax year end-date is coming under scrutiny in tandem with potential changes to the tax year basis for the self-employed. The…
Capital gains tax receipts underline tempting target for Chancellor
New HMRC data shows that in 2019/20, £9.9 billion of capital gains tax (CGT) liabilities were created. In July last year, the Chancellor unexpectedly…
A hint of rising interest rates?
The Bank of England has suggested that interest rates may rise sooner than expected. After its August meeting, the Bank of England (BoE) was…
No room for giveaways in OBR risk report
The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has given Rishi Sunak its new worry list. It gives the Chancellor little wriggle room for potential Budget…
Social care rises up the agenda
A proposal to address social care funding is apparently imminent. “My job is to protect you or your parents or grandparents from the fear…
National Savings to launches Green Savings Bond
National Savings & Investments has announced details of a new green savings product. One of the small surprises in March’s Budget was the announcement…
HMRC loses on child benefit tax
A recent Upper Tribunal case has raised questions about HMRC’s approach to collecting tax on child benefit. Child benefit tax, or the High-Income Child…
Pension lifetime allowance cuts are looming on the horizon
New HMRC statistics show the lifetime allowance continues to be a useful revenue earner for HM Treasury, but rumoured cuts could be a concern…
The Triple Lock trip up, take two
State pension increases and the Triple Lock are back in the spotlight. About a year ago, during the first wave of the pandemic, several…
The £9 billion Child Trust Funds backwater
Over £9 billion was invested in Child Trust Funds (CTFs) as of April 2020, according to new HMRC data. If you have a child…
Cash ISAs remain dominant: The wrong type of ISA?
New statistics from HMRC show over £300bn invested in cash ISAs. One of the many knock-on effects of the pandemic has been that HMRC’s…
How much pension?? What is an adequate retirement income?
A leading pension think tank has examined this question – but the findings aren’t straightforward. Over the years, there has been much focus on…
The year so far for investors: six months down…
The first six months of 2021 have been rewarding for investors, but the next six are uncertain. The first half of 2021 was a…
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