Everything you need to know about tariffs February 19, 2025 The threat of tariffs mean businesses must check their exposure and figure out what’s going on in their supply chains, says Tim Sarson I’ve decided to write an article on tariffs. I don’t do this lightly. Not only is it political, it is dominating the news agenda. So I’ll steer clear of the politics or [...]
Labour’s jobs tax is proving the Laffer curve in real time February 19, 2025 Widespread falls in hiring and increases in redundancies are a textbook demonstration of how tax can destroy economic activity. Labour’s National Insurance rise is proving economic theory before our eyes, says Matthew Kilcoyne Sometimes the data tells a story so clear it hurts. The latest CIPD survey gives us exactly that – a textbook demonstration [...]
Government backtracks on tax hike for private equity firms February 18, 2025 The government has reversed a decision to hike taxes on private equity firms by ditching changes to the tax treatment of members at limited liability partnerships (LLPs). The new guidelines, which were released last year, targeted salaried members on what tax contribution they pay, which affected the partner compensation at most firms. Before the new changes, members [...]
Just over half of Brits in favour of green taxes on households February 18, 2025 According to new research, just over half of Brits are in favour of introducing taxes to encourage a reduction in households’ carbon footprint. According to a survey from EPC and energy efficiency platform epIMS, the most-favoured tax of those surveyed was a waste management levy, with a quarter of respondents supportive of a tax on [...]
Shield your assets from inheritance tax with life insurance February 17, 2025 Inheritance tax entered the headlines last year when the Labour government used its first budget to announce measures designed to close loopholes and raise funds, prompting savers and advisers to reconsider their financial planning. The government’s proposals include plans to impose inheritance tax on unspent pensions from April 2027 and a pledge to reform the [...]
‘This is Keir Starmer’s Poll Tax’: Labour warned inheritance tax protests won’t stop February 17, 2025 The Labour government’s reforms to farmers’ inheritance tax announced in the Autumn Budget has been branded as “Keir Starmer’s Poll Tax”. William Lees-Jones, who owns and runs Manchester-based JW Lees, which has produced real ale since 1828, added that the Prime Minister is “losing the argument and feeling rattled”. The pubs boss has liked the policy, which [...]
Employer confidence heading in the ‘wrong direction’ as firms plan job cuts February 17, 2025 A new survey suggests that more firms are planning job cuts in the next quarter than at any time in the last decade, excluding the pandemic. The latest labour market outlook from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development’s (CIPD) paints a bleak picture of the labour market, as firms plan job cuts in response [...]
Reeves expected to float income tax hikes next month February 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to float income tax rises next month as she attempts to stick to the government’s fiscal rules. A freeze on income tax thresholds is currently being discussed in the Treasury, which could raise as much as £4bn a year, according to reports from the Financial Times. One aide told reports [...]
National insurance hike has ‘taken a bite’ out of London labour market February 14, 2025 Permanent placements made by recruitment firms fell for the sixth consecutive month in January, according to a survey from KPMG and the REC.
Rachel Reeves tax raid ‘unlikely to succeed’, analysts warn February 13, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ attempts to put the public finances on firmer ground through tax hikes are “unlikely to succeed,” according to analysts at Oxford Economics. Collecting evidence from a range of ‘fiscal adjustments’ – attempts by governments to balance their budget deficits – Edward Allenby and Adam Slater said attempts to balance the budget through [...]