Recently, the British supermarket giant Morrisons lost a high-profile value added tax (VAT) dispute. What exactly was the point of contention regarding VAT in this case, and how was the judgement reached?

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?