Businesses are still facing major difficulties in hiring new staff, according to a survey conducted by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). The latest Quarterly Recruitment Outlook (QRO), a survey of more than 5,000 UK firms, found that 80% of those attempting to recruit have faced challenges. While recruitment difficulties are being experienced across the… Read more…

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has criticised the government for losing billions of taxpayers’ money to fraud and error in pandemic support. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) is ‘effectively writing off’ nearly £1 billion paid out erroneously by local authorities on its behalf in pandemic support. Meanwhile, of an estimated £2.2 billion lost to fraud… Read more…

Research carried out by think tank the Resolution Foundation has suggested that the size of the UK’s six-year ‘stealth tax’ threshold freeze has nearly trebled to £25 billion. The figure is significantly higher than the previous forecast of £9 billion announced during the 2021 Budget. A small number of tax thresholds have been frozen since… Read more…

UK inflation has dropped, but remains in double-digit levels, as the cost-of-living crisis eased slightly in March. The annual consumer prices index dropped to 10.1% in March, down from 10.4% in February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported. It was widely expected to fall below 10%, but food prices remained stubbornly high, rising at… Read more…

HMRC has reminded businesses that file VAT returns annually that the online VAT filing portal will close from 15 May 2023. The VAT portal closed to standard quarterly filers on 7 November 2022, but was kept open for a longer period for those who file annual returns. In emails to businesses and tax agents, HMRC… Read more…

Retirement can be a time to look forward to, offering freedom, rest and more time to do the things you love. However, planning for retirement can bring anxiety, particularly when thinking about income. This is where pensions come in as they offer reassurance that you will be able to live comfortably in your later years.… Read more…

A £27 billion transformation of capital allowances from April was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt as he delivered a ‘Budget for growth‘. The Spring Budget followed an improved forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR said it expects the UK to avoid a technical recession this year, with a stronger-than-expected performance from… Read more…

The UK’s business groups largely welcomed the measures taken in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget. The Confederation of British Industry (CBI) branded the Budget as a ‘strong second act’ in Mr Hunt’s plan for stability and growth. Matthew Fell, Interim Director General of the CBI, said: ‘The CBI called for action on people and productivity and… Read more…

HMRC recently issued preliminary guidance in regard to the abolition of the pensions lifetime allowance. At the Spring Budget, Chancellor Hunt announced that the lifetime allowance charge will be removed from 6 April 2023. The allowance will be fully abolished from the 2024/25 tax year via a future Finance Bill, HMRC said. HMRC states that… Read more…

Interest rates have been increased to 4.25% from 4% by the Bank of England (BoE) as it tries to slow rising prices. The BoE’s decision to increase rates for the 11th time in a row comes after figures showed that the cost of living has risen by more than expected. Data published recently by the… Read more…