Savings

The UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has announced that it will increase relevant fees for patents, trademarks, and designs from 1 April 2026.

Facing the silent inflation on their bills, British Christmas shopping has long evolved into a survival strategy game blending data analysis, regional wisdom, and a touch of humour.

Boxing Day promotions in the UK are regaining momentum and are expected to generate £3.8 billion in sales for retailers; Uber and Lyft have announced plans to pilot Chinese autonomous taxis in the UK in 2026; UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves has announced the date of the Spring Budget.

HMRC reports receiving more than 135,000 reports of tax-related fraud; the Bank of England cuts the interest rate to 3.75%; an overview of widespread rail closures and service adjustments in London during the Christmas and New Year period.

For e-commerce sellers, HMRC's audit actions can be particular random, particularly regarding VAT audits. Sometimes, due to misunderstandings or unintentional oversight, you might face an audit even if you have declared on time.

HMRC is seeking to recover taxes from 14,000 households amid a dispute over the “seven-year gift rule”; fares across the London Underground network are set to increase by 5.8% in 2026; and the UK economy unexpectedly contracted by 0.1% in October.

Today, we have summarised the six major red flags that are most likely to trigger an HMRC tax investigation for both business owners and individual taxpayers.

The UK plans to abolish the tax exemption for low-value parcels by March 2029; the income-tax threshold freeze is pushing millions into higher tax bands, increasing the burden on working households; and net migration has fallen sharply as work and study visa arrivals decline significantly.

We have summarised several effective tax planning methods to help small and medium-sized enterprises legally and efficiently reduce their corporation tax burden and improve financial performance.

Biggest overhaul of legal migration model in 50 years announced; Rail fares to be frozen for first time in 30 years; UK inflation rate hits lowest level in four months

Labour will abandon its plan to raise income tax in the upcoming budget; Black Friday spending in the UK may reach £14 billion amid rising scam risks; and ticket-resale platform Viagogo has been hit with a £15 million tax demand.

Millions of UK social media users may face £100 tax penalty risks; HMRC is reviewing the suspension of 23,500 child benefit payments; and the Bank of England expects inflation has peaked while maintaining current interest rates.

Under current UK law, life insurance payouts are not automatically exempt from Inheritance Tax. Whether they are taxed depends entirely on how the policyholder and beneficiaries are arranged. The key factor is whether the payout forms part of the deceased’s estate.

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.

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.

In recent years, immigration to the UK has reached record highs.  Home Office data shows that in 2023 net migration exceeded 740,000, the highest in history. From the Conservatives raising the salary threshold for work visas, to Labour proposing a ten-year route to permanent residency, tougher immigration policy has become a rare point of cross-party consensus.The Reform UK party went further: if it wins the next general election, it would abolish the right of work visa holde

The UK Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, has confirmed that the next Autumn Statement will be delivered on 26 November.  It is expected to include a series of potential tax adjustments and fiscal reforms. Given that inflation has remained high in recent months and the UK economy has shown weak data, many analysts believe Reeves may avoid raising taxes directly on ‘working people’, such as VAT, income tax, and National Insurance contributions.  Instead, the government may target bank