Welfare reforms: What are the politics of Labour’s benefits changes? March 19, 2025 Over the past few weeks, it’s been hard to avoid reports of the government preparing the ground for a string of changes to the UK’s welfare system. Call it kite flying, pitch rolling, or testing the waters, when work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall got to her feet in the House of Commons on Tuesday, [...]
‘Productivity argument’ against family firm tax breaks, IFS director argues February 25, 2025 There is a “productivity argument” against treating family businesses “generously”, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) director has argued, when asked about inheritance tax. Economist Paul Johnson addressed the National Farmers Union (NFU) conference in Westminster on Tuesday, which saw environment secretary Steve Reed’s speech interrupted by farming protestors, as well as NFU president Tom [...]
IFS: UK must intervene to stop ‘ridiculous’ proliferation of small pension pots February 12, 2025 The government should clamp down on the “ridiculous” proliferation of small pension pots, a leading think tank has said. The growing number of these small-scale funds puts up costs for pension providers and makes it more difficult for savers to make sensible decisions, the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) argued. “Further action is needed to [...]
Spending watchdog refuses to sign off on government accounts November 26, 2024 The spending watchdog has refused to sign off on the government's accounts for the first time due to unreliable data from England's local councils.
Autumn Budget 2024: Working people debate a ‘terrible illusion’, former Bank of England governor says October 27, 2024 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is set to increase taxes significantly in Wednesday's Budget, with reports indicating that she will raise £20bn by hiking employers' national insurance.
Long-time IFS director Paul Johnson to step down October 17, 2024 Johnson, who became Director of the IFS in January 2011, will take up the role of Provost of Queen's College, Oxford.
‘Broken’ inheritance tax ripe for reform at Budget, think tank says October 17, 2024 The government must reform the UK’s “broken inheritance tax system”, a respected think tank has urged, after fresh research found uncapped exemptions in the current framework means a quarter of estates worth over £10m pay a rate of just nine per cent. The Centre for Analysis of Taxation (CenTax) paper, published on Thursday, revealed the [...]
Capital gains tax could be hiked to almost 40 per cent October 10, 2024 Capital gains tax could be hiked by Chancellor Rachel Reeves to almost 40 per cent in the Budget, according to reports. The Guardian has reported that the Treasury is modelling a range of between 33 per cent to 39 per cent. Around 350,000 people pay the wealth tax with is levied on the sale of [...]
Taxes might have to go up by £25bn in Budget, IFS says October 10, 2024 Rachel Reeves may have to raise taxes by £25bn in the Budget if she wants to improve the delivery of public services, the influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said today. Although the Chancellor looks set to reform the fiscal rules to enable more borrowing for investment, Reeves has committed to meet day-to-day spending out [...]
IFS joins calls for ‘serious reform’ of capital gains tax October 6, 2024 Rachel Reeves is reportedly considering a range of tax hikes in the budget, including to CGT, as she seeks to put the public finances on surer footing.