“Business tax faces urgent call for government review”

Apr 18, 2018 | Tax

Tags: HM Revenue & Customs
An independent (financial adviser’s) view

If you run a business, you might see a glimmer of hope in this headline. Are they going to have a proper look at the taxes that affect and cripple most small businesses, most days? VAT? Business rates? Corporation tax? Employee National Insurance?

No, they’re going to focus on ‘the operation of the Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme, Enterprise Investment Scheme and Venture Capital Trust schemes, and the interactions, and differences, between Entrepreneurs’ Relief, Capital Gains Tax gift relief and Inheritance Tax reliefs for business assets’.

In the words of The Only Ones (kids etc.), ‘Another Girl, Another Planet’.

Read more here

“Reeves backs down on plans to cut ISA limit”

“Reeves backs down on plans to cut ISA limit”

May 21, 2025 |

So it looks as though Cash ISAs are safe for the moment (FTM – is that a thing?) Rachel has apparently ‘bowed to pressure’ from the banks and building societies and decided not to reduce the allowance to £4,000 for cash and to keep the £20,000 parity with Stocks and Shares ISAs. Bowed also to common sense, I’d say.

“Two thirds of adults are worried about care costs in later life”

“Two thirds of adults are worried about care costs in later life”

May 20, 2025 |

A dichotomy/dilemma here. Two thirds of adults are probably right to be worried about the cost of care, which is huge and getting more so. Many of those currently worrying will have had first-hand experience with their own parents, which will have focused their minds on their own possible future.

“Why most won’t need to worry about IHT on pensions”

“Why most won’t need to worry about IHT on pensions”

May 15, 2025 |

Many a government has made the point that only a minority will be affected by this or that tax change or tinker. It is, however, both perception and aspiration which are important, and they are what makes IHT the ‘most hated’ of all taxes – along with all the others, of course.

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