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.

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.

Recent UK tax compliance data has sounded the alarm once again: in the past three years, nearly half a million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) repeatedly missed tax deadlines, with as many as 19% admitting they delayed tax payments more than five times in just the past 12 months. A combination of complex tax rules and cash flow pressures is dragging UK SMEs compliance levels down.

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).

Number of countries suspending parcel shipments to the US grows to 25! More than £8bn wiped off British banks over Reeves tax raid fears! Electric cars eligible for £3,750 discount announced

HMRC has officially announced new rules – from 1 January 2026, tax reporting requirements for crypto assets will tighten significantly, and tax evasion will face severe penalties.

State pension alert: DWP called to raise payments to £586 a week and slash retirement age to 60; Online fashion retailer Shein’s UK sales leap by a third to more than £2bn; UK Cuts Dividend Tax Allowance Twice: 3.6 Million Investors Now Face Tax

In recent years, an increasing number of workers in the UK have chosen to take on part-time work to earn extra income – for example, delivering food in the evenings, selling handmade crafts online, freelancing, or helping friends with various tasks. Flexible side jobs have become an important way to cope with the rising cost of living and to pursue financial independence.

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

The new regulations impose high-frequency, high-dimensional reporting obligations on platforms. They also introduce automatic identity and transaction data matching for sellers—signalling the end of the grey-area practices involving offshore platforms, offshore income, and missing declarations. Given the situation, many have wondered – does Hong Kong still offer a low-tax advantage for businesses?

New data released through a Freedom of Information request shows that over five years, the number of savers opting to access their pension flexibly ahead of retirement has increased by 18%. Why are so many choosing to dip into their pension pots early rather than waiting until full retirement age?

A new survey reveals that even amid changes to stamp duty relief and an uncertain housing market, a third of Britons still want to own their own rental property and earn income as landlords.But given the latest tax changes, is property investment really still the easy route to passive income it once seemed to be? Why are so many choosing to dip into their pension pots early rather than waiting until full retirement age?

In this article, we’ve compiled eight key personal tax reliefs and allowances still available, along with how to apply for them. These will help you manage your tax planning more effectively and protect your wealth. Save or bookmark this guide for future reference.

In just the past month alone, HMRC collected nearly £800 million in inheritance tax (IHT), marking the second-highest monthly figure ever recorded. As a result, many families not previously considered wealthy are now being swept into the scope of IHT.

For most entrepreneurs, your business will likely fall under the category of a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME). Let’s explore what qualifies as an SME, why SMEs are so important to the British economy, and what practical steps you can take if you’re planning to launch your own business.

According to major media reports, the so-called ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is playing a major role in the UK housing market, helping young people buy homes earlier and at higher prices — particularly first-time buyers. In other words, for many people under 30 in the UK, homeownership is simply not realistic without financial help from parents.

Prime Minister says government 'will look at' scrapping two-child benefits limit; Labour plots ‘family bathtime tax’ on water bills; Reeves outlines plan for £25bn pension 'megafunds'.

Tax rise warning after higher-than-expected UK borrowing. Trump threatens 50% tariffs on EU and 25% on iPhones. HMRC issues 'minimum tax bill' of nearly £100,000 UK homes.