Newsletter

Recently, the UK's economic data has sounded the alarm once more. UK retail sales grew by only 1.6% in October 2025. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), the unemployment rate rose to 5.0% in the three months to the end of September.

On 26 November 2025, British Chancellor of the Exchequer Reeves announced the highly anticipated Autumn Budget. This Autumn Budget includes several tax measures aimed at businesses and individuals, covering areas such as venture capital, business rates, income tax thresholds, and high-value property taxes.

From 1 February 2026, Companies House will officially increase the Annual Filing Fee for existing companies and the Incorporation Fee for new companies.

The reforms are widely regarded as the most significant overhaul of the system since Brexit, with major implications for visa-sponsoring employers, international students and foreign professionals seeking long-term residence in the UK.

The 2025 Autumn Budget is scheduled for 26 November, more than a month later than last year. The following are among the most discussed possibilities.

However, the number of available beds and support services remains far from sufficient to meet the influx. This will push pressure onto local communities and the private rental sector, increasing the likelihood that asylum seekers will be dispersed into houses in multiple occupation (HMOs).

In recent years, QR codes have become an indispensable part of daily life and are increasingly common across the UK. Whether ordering drinks in a bar or paying for parking, a quick scan can complete the transaction within seconds. According to British media reports, in just one year QR scams have cost consumers more than £3.5 million.

More than 1.1 million UK pensioners may soon pay income tax on savings interest; Temu’s EU profit nears $120 million despite having only eight employees, sparking tax controversy; and UK inflation remains unchanged at 3.8% for the third consecutive month.

As winter approaches, heating, electricity and food expenses are expected to climb even higher, potentially pushing more households into debt crises. At the same time, HMRC has announced the restart of its Direct Recovery of Debts (DRD) scheme, which allows the tax authority to deduct unpaid taxes directly from individuals’ bank accounts.

UK weather maps show the exact 3 consecutive days snow is forecast in October; Nearly 500 companies have been fined by the government for failing to pay employees the legally mandated minimum wage; Rachel Reeves plots £1bn cut to Motability scheme.

Since April this year, multiple tax increases in the UK have not only added pressure on businesses but also made the cost-of-living challenge for households more severe—water, electricity, and energy bills have all gone up. From October 1, Ofgem has updated the energy price cap, increasing the average annual household bill by £35.14 to £1,755.14 (up from the £1,720 rate effective since July).

In 2025, global population growth has entered a new stage of observation – many countries are seeing a marked decline in fertility rates, and the world is stepping into a ‘low fertility era’. As the demographic dividend gradually fades, numerous countries are now introducing new policies to encourage childbirth.

Home Office data shows that the UK received 111,000 asylum applications in the year to June 2025 – a 14% increase on the previous year, and higher than the previous peak in 2002. Many people ask: where does the money for asylum seekers and refugees actually come from? Is it funded directly by taxpayers’ contributions?

Britain’s pension system is under mounting pressure, with millions of retirees already struggling to make ends meet and younger generations at risk of even greater hardship in the future. Recent data from the International Longevity Centre (ILC) and the Pensions Policy Institute paints a stark picture of a nation facing a deepening retirement crisis.

Reeves considering new property tax on houses worth more than £500,000; Rail fares in England on path to rise by 5.8% next year on back of inflation data; Record 111,000 UK asylum applications in past year

Protests have recently broken out outside migrant hotels across the UK, with public anger over illegal immigration continuing to escalate. In addition to safety concerns and the controversy over hotel costs, the UK faces a worsening housing crisis, which has become a major source of frustration for citizens and legal immigrants alike.

Following significant progress made by the G7 nations on the global minimum tax and the crackdown on multinational tax avoidance, the United States has agreed to remove Section 899 – a retaliatory tax clause against foreign companies – from the Big Beautiful Bill. This move spares UK-based businesses from what could have been an enormous additional tax burden.

According to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC), annual food inflation in June rose to 3.7%, up from 2.8% in May – the largest monthly increase in nearly a year. The price hike breakdown: ‘climate tax’ and ‘policy tax’ on the dinner table.

UK investors buy gold coins in record numbers to mitigate against tax; UK retailers warn of more price hikes as tax costs bite; Biometrics to replace stamps at EU border from 12 October

One of this summer’s most talked-about limited editions in the UK has undoubtedly been the strawberry and cream sandwich from Marks & Spencer (M&S). However, this viral hit has unexpectedly triggered a VAT (Value Added Tax) controversy, which could prompt an investigation by HMRC – and may even mean that some consumers have overpaid tax. Why are so many choosing to dip into their pension pots early rather than waiting until full retirement age?