Finance
Why Is HMRC Investigating 14,000 UK Families Over Inheritance Tax in 2026?
Quick Answer: Bereaved families across the UK are subject to a review of their paperwork. HMRC is investigating thousands for underpaid inheritance tax, opening more than 14,000 compliance checks since April 2022. Frozen thresholds and rising house prices are pulling more estates into the net, and more errors are being caught. Inheritance Tax (IHT) is […]
Why Is Capita’s Share Price Moving? Breaking Down the Five Biggest Reasons
So what’s happened to Capita’s share price this year? Nothing good, if we’re being blunt. By mid-July 2026 it had slumped to around 238p, a far cry from its 416p high for the year, and edging uncomfortably close to the 215p low. A mix of contract failures and political heat has kept knocking it down. […]
Will the New State Pension Be Taxed From April 2027?
Quick Answer: The State Pension is set to rise by at least 2.5% in April 2027 under the Triple Lock — taking the full new State Pension to around £247.35 a week (£12,861 a year). This will push it above the £12,570 tax-free Personal Allowance for the first time, but the government has confirmed pensioners […]
How Long Does It Take HMRC to Process a VAT Refund in the UK?
If your business has paid more VAT than it charged customers, HMRC will usually pay you the difference. So, how long does HMRC take to process a VAT refund? In most cases, repayments land within 30 days of HMRC receiving your VAT return. Some arrive sooner. Others take longer when checks are needed. This guide […]
Why HMRC ISA Tax Changes are Causing Concern Among Savers
The latest HMRC ISA tax changes have landed, and plenty of savers are uneasy. From April 2027, interest earned on cash held inside a stocks and shares ISA will be taxed at 22%. It’s part of a wider shake-up meant to nudge people away from cash and towards investing. But providers warn the new rules […]
Uk Minimum Wage Changes April 2026: New Rates, Rules and What Workers Need to Know
Quiet change, but April 2026 meant more cash for plenty of people. The UK minimum wage changes from April 2026 started from 1 April, with the National Living Wage climbing to £12.71 per hour for workers aged 21 and over. Previously it was £12.21-that’s 4.1% more. The younger brackets saw even steeper rises. The 18-20 […]
UK Pensioners & the France Tax Bill: What’s Really Going On?
Thinking of retiring to France, or already settled there? For UK pensioners, the French tax bill on a pension can throw up a few nasty surprises. The headline is simple enough: once you become a French tax resident, most UK pension income is taxed in France, not the UK. Government service pensions are the big […]
HMRC Wage Raid Payroll Checks: A Wake-Up Call for Employers?
HMRC wage raid payroll checks are payroll compliance inspections that can happen without any notice. Most employers believe that HMRC conducts investigations when businesses deliberately take the law into their own hands. However, the reality is different. A payroll error. An outdated minimum wage rate. A deduction that shouldn’t have been made. A few missed […]
How Much Will The Cost Of Living Increase In 2026
The British public continues to watch grocery bills, petrol pumps, and heating meters with extreme caution. After a couple of years of massive price spikes that left people feeling completely skint, things are finally shifting. But anyone hoping that things will actually get cheaper is going to be disappointed. Prices are still going up, just […]
Why UK House Prices Are Rising Despite Crisis: An Economic Deep Dive
Although the British property market has long played an outlier role in the international financial world, current movements have taken that definition to its extreme. As we approach the dreaded 2026, which seems to be like some fear-fuelled odometer click in a video game: frequently spoken of as the year when it is popularised that […]
How The UK State Pension Increase Campaign Is Changing Payments for Pensioners
Millions of people across the UK are finally seeing a bit of extra breathing room in their bank accounts this month. It’s been a long road, but the latest UK State Pension Increase Campaign has hit its mark, with a significant 4.8% boost landing in April 2026. This isn’t just some minor adjustment to the […]
How Much Will Child Benefit Increase In 2026 As New Rates And Rules Change
The wait for the new tax year figures is finally over. On 6 April 2026, the Department for Work and Pensions and HMRC rolled out the updated rates for households across the UK. It isn’t just a minor tweak this time. Because inflation remained sticky throughout late 2025, the government had to peg the 2026 child benefit […]