JD Wetherspoon sales jump despite continued pub sell-off May 7, 2025 Sales at JD Wetherspoon jumped five per cent over the last quarter as the pub giant continued to sell more locations. The pub giant has sold off seven of its pubs since the start of the year, despite opening only two new ones, it said in a trading update today. It said it expected to [...]
How to shield your pension from Labour’s inheritance tax raid May 6, 2025 According to new analysis by Quilter, just two per cent of estates subject to inheritance tax (IHT) are currently taking advantage of surplus income gifting to reduce their tax liabilities. Based on freedom of information (FOI) requests carried out by the wealth management firm, just 1,490 estates are currently taking advantage of the rules, but Quilter expects [...]
Simone Ashley: Bridgerton and Sex Education star’s side hustle almost doubles in value April 30, 2025 A production company founded by Bridgerton and Sex Education star Simone Ashley has almost doubled in value during its latest financial year. Good Catch Entertainment, which is based in Worcestershire, has posted shareholder funds of £1.77m for the 12 months to the end of July 2024, new accounts filed with Companies House show. The latest [...]
10 Things You Need to Know Before Investing in Your First Whisky Cask April 30, 2025 The whisky cask market has experienced significant growth over the past decade, quietlyoutperforming other luxury assets, such as fine wine and vintage cars. With Scotch whisky exports reaching £5.4bn in 2024, showing a steady increase of around 36.7per cent over the last decade, the long-term outlook for cask whisky remains strong, providedinvestors know what to [...]
UK businesses warn of financial strain ahead of digital tax rules April 29, 2025 A majority of UK small business owners are concerned about the financial and operational pressures of HMRC’s upcoming ‘making tax digital‘ (MTD) reforms to income tax. MTD for income tax, set to take effect from April 2026, will require self-employed individuals and landlords earnings over £50,000 to maintain digital records and submit quarterly updates using [...]
Treasury to scrap valuation quango amid efficiency drive April 28, 2025 The Valuation Office Agency will be folded into HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the tax minister has said, in the latest sign of the government’s efforts to trim away fat from the operations of the state. The arms length body responsible for valuing properties to determine tax rates, which spans £60bn worth of valuation each [...]
Technicolor: Visual effects studio owed over £100m ahead of collapse April 28, 2025 More than £100m was owed by Technicolor, the visual effects company which worked on films ranging from Disney’s 1940 Pinocchio to 2024’s Mufasa The Lion King when it collapsed into administration in the UK, it has been revealed. Interpath was appointed to oversee the process at the business in February in a move which also [...]
Wetherspoons fails to prove cider is not alcohol in tax dispute April 24, 2025 Budget boozer Wetherspoons unsuccessfully argued cider did not fall within the meaning of 'alcoholic beverages' in a VAT dispute with HMRC
Small firms splash out £25bn on tax compliance as HMRC accused of ‘poor service’ April 22, 2025 Small firms are set to stump up a combined £25bn on tax compliance this year, a leading industry body has said, as it accused HMRC of failing to answer phone calls or letters. Calls for a vast reform of the UK’s tax system have come from leading think tanks and policymakers for several years. But [...]
Stealth income tax hike will hit millions of over 60s April 16, 2025 Millions more Brits, including a significant percentage of over 60s, will be dragged into paying income tax in the coming months as Rachel Reeves squeezes the spending powers of lower earners with a freeze on tax bands. Official data suggests that around 11m Brits will begin paying the basic rate of income tax by 2028. [...]