A £725 million package of skills reforms to the apprenticeship system with the aim of helping to tackle youth unemployment and drive economic growth, has been announced by the UK government. The government says the reforms will create 50,000 additional apprenticeships and foundation apprenticeships over the next three years. As part of the package, the… Read more…

HMRC is offering self assessment taxpayers a reminder that help is available to manage their tax bill. The deadline to file and pay any tax owed is 31 January 2026, but people who are unable to pay in full by then may be able to set up a Time to Pay arrangement online and spread… Read more…

HMRC has published the latest issue of the Employer Bulletin. The December issue has information on various topics, including: Changes take effect 6 April 2026 – prepare for new PAYE responsibilities in labour supply chains. Clarifying the Optional Remuneration Arrangement rules at section 228A ITEPA. Important update regarding tax refunds. Payrolling of benefits in kind.… Read more…

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves set out tax-raising measures worth up to £26 billion in the Autumn Budget. The increases will be achieved through a range of measures, including extending the freeze on Income Tax thresholds for a further three years. Ms Reeves also announced extra spending increasing to £11.3 billion in 2029/30, including… Read more…

HMRC is urging those making money from Christmas crafts, seasonal market stalls, or selling festive items to check if they need to report their earnings. As the festive season approaches, the tax authority has launched a Help for Hustles campaign. This aims to remind anyone earning extra income from activities like making Christmas decorations, upcycling… Read more…

The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) has urged the government to implement a transitional rule to allow older farmers and other business owners to gift assets to the younger generation free of Inheritance Tax (IHT) before changes take effect in April 2026. Current rules incentivise farmers to keep their farms until their deaths, the CIOT… Read more…

Official statistics have overstated the size of the UK’s self-employed population for two decades, according to the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). The share of national income flowing to those with the highest incomes has also been over-estimated, adds the think tank. The mismeasurement stems from a longstanding error in the Survey of Personal Incomes… Read more…

UK bank customers will benefit from an increase to the maximum amount they would be reimbursed for if their bank were to fail from 1 December, the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) has confirmed. From December, the deposit protection limit, which applies to the Financial Services Compensation Scheme, will protect up to £120,000 of a depositor’s… Read more…

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has warned that the UK could fall behind in the race to achieve net zero. Research carried out by global management consulting firm McKinsey and Company showed that the transition to net zero could potentially be worth more than £1 trillion to UK business by 2030. A survey of… Read more…