The Government has announced a major change to the cash ISA allowance and other reforms to the ISA system alongside a hike in savings income tax rates. The changes bring major changes for UK savers contributing cash into the tax-free accounts, with potentially far-reaching consequences. Under the plans announced by the Chancellor, the annual tax-free […]
Christmas is the season of giving and for many people also a moment to think about financial generosity. There are clear rules around inheritance tax (IHT) and gifting that shape how much you can give away during your lifetime without creating an unexpected tax bill for the beneficiaries of your estate. Understanding these rules can […]
Introduction We’ve seen record highs in equity markets, a ceasefire in the Middle East, better than expected inflation figures, and surprisingly good UK retail sales performance. Despite this, the pressure on Chancellor Rachel Reeves is relentless as she heads towards another Autumn Statement on 26th November, where she is expected to face more criticism and […]
For many people approaching retirement, the pension tax-free lump sum is one of the most attractive features of their pension savings.It allows you to take up to a quarter of your pension pot as a one-off payment without paying income tax – up to a current maximum of £268,275. While this can seem straightforward, the rules are […]
Retirees receiving the full new state pension from April 2026 are on course for an increase of 4.8%, according to figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).The boost was confirmed thanks to September inflation coming in below average wages. Under the so-called ‘triple lock’ mechanism the state pension rises each April by the highest of average […]
Prices rises have remained steadily at 3.8% for three consecutive months, the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) shows.The latest figures from the ONS published on 22 October 2025 show the annual rate of the Consumer Prices Index (CPI) remained at 3.8% in the 12 months to September, unchanged for the third month in […]
Introduction Inflation and economic growth were the two key themes which politicians, global economists and central bankers grappled with in September. There is an almost unprecedented interest in economic indicators in 2025, perhaps because of the unchartered economic territories Trump has pushed the world into. Not all of these indicators are reliable predictors of the […]
The Government has announced that the Autumn Budget will take place on 26 November. The statement will set out the Chancellor’s latest plans for the economy, taxation and public spending at a time when households and businesses are grappling with ongoing uncertainty. In recent weeks, there has been a flurry of speculation in the media […]
The Bank of England (BoE) Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has decided at its meeting on 18 September 2025 to hold the bank rate at 4%, while slowing its programme of ‘quantitative tightening’ (QT). The decision was widely expected by markets and analysts, given the mixed recent economic data from the UK economy on inflation and […]
The State Pension is due to increase by 4.7% next April after the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) figures were published on Tuesday, 16th of September. The ONS data confirmed the latest annual wage growth of 4.7% would be the deciding figure under the State Pension Triple Lock. This uplift, while lower than some […]