The Government has unveiled further details of its plans to give workers on zero and low-hours contracts greater certainty over their working patterns. This comes despite warnings from businesses that the reforms could harm employment prospects for younger workers. Under recent proposals, employees who regularly work more hours than their contracted amount could become entitled…

Too many people face a significant drop in income when they retire, with the majority unlikely to save enough to maintain a moderate standard of living, according to a new report from Pensions UK. The trade body estimates that a moderate retirement lifestyle now requires an annual income of £32,700 for a single person and…

UK businesses are turning to temporary workers rather than permanent staff as weak confidence, rising costs and global uncertainty weigh on hiring plans, recruiters say. A new report from recruitment firms says permanent staff appointments fell in May at the fastest rate for 10 months. Employers appear reluctant to expand their long-term headcount while the…

Higher borrowing costs are putting fresh pressure on homebuyers, with many now spending the largest share of their income on mortgage repayments since the 2008 financial crisis. Analysis from UK Finance, the trade body for the banking and finance industry, shows buyers are spending an average of 21.3% of gross household income on initial mortgage…

What business owners need to know before borrowing from their company. Many business owners withdraw funds from their companies beyond salary and dividends at some point. It could cover a short-term personal cost, help with a property deposit, or bridge the gap between dividend declarations. That flexibility can be useful, but director’s loan accounts come…

How to manage your UK tax position when living or working overseas. Spending time abroad for work has become much more common. You might be moving for a posting, taking a permanent role overseas, working remotely from another country, or returning to the UK after several years away. What often surprises people is how far…

UK construction firms are facing some of the steepest cost increases in almost 30 years, as the war in Iran pushes up fuel, energy and raw material prices. A closely watched survey of UK construction companies found that input cost inflation rose sharply in April, reaching its highest level since June 2022, when commodity prices…

A new survey suggests that British households are bracing for renewed financial pressure as conflict in the Middle East dampens economic confidence. Consumer confidence in the UK has fallen at its fastest quarterly rate since June 2022, when inflation surged after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed up global commodity prices. The survey, which tracks measures…

British Steel is set to return to public ownership after Sir Keir Starmer announced plans for new legislation giving the Government powers to take full control of the company. The Prime Minister said the move would be subject to a public interest test, which will consider issues such as national security, critical infrastructure and economic…

Government borrowing costs have risen sharply as investors react to uncertainty over the future of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. The effective interest rate on 10-year Government borrowing briefly reached 5.13%, close to levels last seen during the 2008 global financial crisis. Longer-term borrowing also came under pressure, with the 30-year gilt yield hitting 5.81%,…

Simple ways to use the reliefs available on qualifying gifts. Giving to charity is often driven by values rather than tax planning, but the tax treatment still matters. Used properly, the available reliefs can make a donation go further, lower your tax bill, or both. HMRC’s latest charity tax relief statistics show that tax reliefs…

Review systems, suppliers and processes before the deadline. E-invoicing has moved from a back-office improvement to a planning issue for UK businesses. The government has said that all VAT invoices will need to be issued as e-invoices from April 2029. In practice, that mainly affects business-to-business and business-to-government VAT invoices, rather than ordinary business-to-consumer sales.…

Many small businesses remain unclear about electronic invoicing requirements, with most unaware of HMRC communications ahead of the planned rollout. At the Autumn Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirmed that, from April 2029, all VAT-registered businesses must issue invoices electronically. The move is intended to modernise the UK tax system. However, the announcement received limited attention,…

UK consumers have reduced travel spending for the first time in five years, reflecting growing concern about living costs and global instability. Data from Barclays shows overall card spending rose by just 0.9% year on year in March, slightly down from 1% in February. Within that, travel spending fell by 3.3%, marking the first decline…

A report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies has found that the UK Government’s Help to Buy scheme largely benefited higher earners. Introduced in England in 2013, the scheme aimed to support first-time buyers who lacked financial help from family or friends. It did this through two main policies: a mortgage guarantee scheme that enabled…

More UK businesses are set to receive support with rising energy costs, after the Government confirmed it will expand a scheme first outlined in 2025. Around 10,000 energy-intensive manufacturers, including firms in steel, automotive and pharmaceuticals, could see electricity bills reduced by up to 25%. The original plan covered 7,000 companies, meaning a further 3,000…

Pensions remain one of the most tax-efficient ways to save for the long term. They can help reduce taxable income, support business owners’ extraction planning, and build retirement wealth in a structured way. Problems usually arise when contributions are made without first checking the rules. That is when an otherwise sensible pension contribution can trigger…

Making Tax Digital for income tax (MTD IT) starts from 6 April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000. For many businesses and property owners, the change is less about extra tax and more about changing how records are kept and how income is reported to HMRC through the year. HMRC…

Businesses could receive financial incentives to hire young people under new Government proposals to tackle youth unemployment and expand apprenticeship opportunities. Ministers have announced plans to create around 200,000 jobs through a £1bn funding package aimed at supporting employers and helping young people move into work. As part of the initiative, companies will receive a…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has announced a £50m support package for low-income and vulnerable households reliant on heating oil, as prices continue to surge following the conflict in the Middle East. Kerosene, the fuel used in heating oil systems, has risen sharply in recent weeks, outpacing increases in petrol and mains gas. Unlike gas and electricity,…