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Tax


  • Don't fall for tax rebate scam
    Rebecca Atkinson
    23.07.09
    Fraudsters are targeting thousands of taxpayers with scam emails asking for their bank details in order for them to claim tax rebates.
  • Time to fight back
    Ceri Jones
    06.07.09
    The Budget's new pension rules have hit high earners particularly hard, but there is a way to benefit from salary sacrifice and turn income into gains, finds Ceri Jones.
  • How to beat the UK's most hated tax
    Sam Barrett
    08.06.09
    Don't let the taxman 
swallow your children's 
inheritance. Sam Barrett shows how you can reduce your liability to the 
UK's most hated tax.
  • Tax deadline approaches
    Rebecca Atkinson
    01.06.09
    If you haven't yet renewed your tax credits claim then time is ticking for you to do so. You must renew your claim by 31 July or your payments will stop.
  • IHT tips to lighten the load
    Sam Barrett
    11.05.09
    It's easy to fall into the inheritance tax trap and leave your family with an unnecessary bill. Sam Barrett looks at financial planning and investment strategies to help foil the taxman.
  • Government crackdown on tax evasion
    James Moore
    22.04.09
    Billions of pounds could be repatriated to the UK after the Government relaxed rules on how profits made overseas by multinationals are taxed.
  • High earners hit by tax rise
    Rhian Nicholson
    22.04.09
    High earners on more than £150,000 a year were today dealt a further blow with the top rate of income tax due to rise to 50% from April.
  • Shelter your returns across the year
    Helen Pridham
    03.04.09
    Helen Pridham looks at how investors can protect their assets in turbulent conditions by investing in tax-efficient schemes.
  • Manage your own ISA
    Sarah Coles
    10.03.09
    If you fancy yourself as a bit of a fund manager or you can't find a fund you like for your stocks and shares ISA, you could always go down the self-select ISA route. Sarah Coles explains what you need to know before taking the plunge.
  • Perfect the investment balancing act
    Sarah Coles
    10.03.09
    Whether you plump for a fund-based stocks and shares ISA or you decide to go down the self-select route, you need to consider how your investment portfolio shapes up. Sarah Coles explains how to achieve a balanced portfolio with a spread of different assets.
  • Slash your tax bill in just five days
    Sam Barrett
    09.03.09
    You can give your finances a serious lift by beating the taxman. Sam Barrett shares some quick and easy ways you can reduce your tax bill in just five days.
  • Are you ready for your self-assessment?
    Rhian Nicholson
    15.01.09
    Collective fines of more than £470 million are looming if taxpayers fail to meet the 31 January online self-assessment deadline or file incorrect information. Are you ready?
  • Child Tax Credit to rise by £75
    Johanna Gornitzki
    24.11.08
    The child element of Child Tax Credit will increase by £75 above indexation from April next year after the Government decided to bring forward the proposed increase for 2010.
  • High earners hit with 45% income tax
    Liam Tarry
    24.11.08
    The UK's highest earners are perhaps the biggest losers from the pre-Budget report, with those on £150,000 or more set to see income tax increase to 45%.
  • NI contributions to increase
    Johanna Gornitzki
    24.11.08
    National insurance contributions will rise by 0.5% from 2011, the chancellor Alistair Darling announced today.
  • Don't pay for the taxman's blunders
    Sarah Coles
    24.10.08
    Is the taxman charging you too much? Sarah Coles investigates what happens when HMRC gets it wrong, and explains how you can get your money back.
  • Tax rebate for 22 million people
    Rebecca Atkinson
    03.09.08
    Around 22 million workers are set to receive an extra £60 in their pay packets for September, as new tax measures come into force this month.
  • Stamp duty exemption finally unveiled
    Rebecca Atkinson
    02.09.08
    Properties under £175,000 are to be exempt from stamp duty for one year from 3 September, the Government has confirmed today.
  • Is Brown set to scrap stamp duty?
    Liam Tarry
    05.08.08
    There is mounting speculation that Gordon Brown is considering a temporary suspension of stamp duty in an attempt to kick-start the flagging property market.
  • Plans from Brussels could see VAT slashed
    Rebecca Atkinson
    09.07.08
    The cost of eating out, converting your loft or hiring a childminder could be reduced under plans tabled by Brussels to cut VAT, reports Rebecca Atkinson.
  • Tories call for fuel duty to offset petrol hikes
    Rebecca Atkinson
    07.07.08
    The Conservative Party has proposed a plan to soften the blow of rising fuel prices on families by offsetting expensive petrol with lower fuel duty, reports Rebecca Atkinson.
  • Check your council tax valuation
    Hannah Ricci
    27.05.08
    Ensuring your council tax is in the right band could save you hundreds of pounds. Hannah Ricci shows you how to reclaim your money.
  • Green taxes to hit family cars
    Sarah Coles
    19.05.08
    This year's Budget introduced green taxes as a step towards cutting carbon dioxide emissions. But, Sarah Cole reports, drivers of family cars will be hit hardest.
  • Hopes for rate cuts dashed by soaring inflation
    Rebecca Atkinson
    14.05.08
    The BoE has hinted that there'll be no more cut interest rates this year as the risk of rising inflation continues to dog efforts to bolster the slowing economy. Rebecca Atkinson reports.
  • Thousands facing higher rate of income tax
    Rebecca Atkinson
    14.05.08
    Moves to compensate people hit by the axed 10p tax rate will push thousands more people onto a higher rate of income tax, reports Rebecca Atkinson.
  • Government cuts income taxes
    13.05.08
    The Government trimmed income taxes for 22 million people today, as soaring food and fuel bills sent inflation rocketing.
  • A heady incentive
    Money Observer
    23.04.08
    The tax efficiency of pensions is a compelling choice for long-term savings. But the right time to
    maximise contributions is not clear cut, writes Faith Glasgow.
  • New tax year changes at a glance
    Rebecca Atkinson
    08.04.08
    The new tax year has brought in a host of tax reforms. Here's Rebecca Atkinson with a guide to the changes.
  • Time to get your tax ducks in a row
    Sam Barrett
    20.03.08
    Now is the time for a comprehensive review of your investment and saving allowances. After all, it could help protect your own nest eggs, writes Sam Barrett.
  • Get your own back on the taxman
    Hannah Ricci
    13.03.08
    We all have to pay taxes but, as Hannah Ricci discovers, there are plenty of ways for you to reduce your tax bill and keep more of your cash.
  • Darling reveals CGT concession
    Rebecca Atkinson
    25.01.08
    Chancellor Alistair Darling confirmed plans first announced in last year's pre-Budget that an 18% flat-rate of capital gains tax will be introduced from 6 April 2008, reports Rebecca Atkinson.
  • Tax return deadline looms
    Hannah Ricci
    10.01.08
    The deadline for self-assessment tax returns is 31 January - failure to get it back by then will lead to a fine. Hannah Ricci guides you on returning yours on time.
  • Be sure to get your fair share
    Rhian Nicholson
    23.09.07
    Rhian Nicholson explains how to reclaim national insurance contributions when a partner dies.
  • Private equity's tax breaks
    Jeff Salway
    06.09.07
    Headlines claim that private equity firms are abusing tax rules to rake in the cash. A trade union official agrees, while an executive defends the industry.
  • Watch out for capital gains tax
    23.08.07
    If your investments are a success CGT can creep up on you. Harriet Meyer explains how to avoid a nasty surprise from the taxman.
  • Battling against IHT confusion
    Matt Pitcher
    17.08.07
    The complications of inheritance tax leaves one reader confused. Matt Pitcher clears up the regulations.
  • UK taxes are complex and unfair
    Sarah Pennells
    17.08.07
    Brown's unfair tax system has been great for the wealthy, but let the rest of us down, says Sarah Pennells.
  • Taxing times for buy-to-let
    Rob Griffin
    17.07.07
    Alarm bells are sounding as the Inland Revenue sets its sights on buy-to-let landlords to tackle unpaid tax bills.
  • Gordon's legacy: tax hikes
    Jeff Salway
    16.07.07
    Brown's record of tax hikes is revealed: those on lower incomes have been hit hardest - many now depend on tax credits.
  • Basic rate tax cut - master move?
    20.06.07
    Should Gordon Brown have scrapped the 10p income tax band? Hailed as a masterstroke by many commentators, but viewed by others as crude political cynicism.
  • The taxing thing about gilts
    Peter Temple
    12.06.07
    Investment advisers will tell you not to base an investment decision on tax, but when it comes to gilts you must consider your tax position, says Peter Temple.
  • Mixed verdict on Brown's tax legacy
    Rob Griffin
    01.05.07
    Have Brown's policies improved our finances or resulted in funding lavish government spending? The jury's out on his record in the Treasury.
  • Save your family thousands
    Jeff Salway
    28.02.07
    The chances are you're paying far too much tax, but it doesn't have to be this way. Jeff Salway explains.
  • 10 tips to cut your tax bill
    Rachel Lacey
    23.01.07
    Rachel Williams introduces our top 10 tips for cutting your tax bill and cashing in on tax relief.
  • The executor of a will
    Faith Glasgow
    23.01.07
    No one needs the stress of probate when someone dies. Faith Glasgow explains what's involved in executing a will.
  • Council tax bills to rise 3.5%
    22.01.07
    Council tax bills in England are set to rise by an average of 3.5% but the elderly will suffer from reduced services, according to a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA).
  • How trust laws will affect IHT plans
    Faith Glasgow
    16.11.06
    New laws changing the way trusts are taxed could have an impact on how you pass on your wealth. Faith Glasgow explains how to deal with the new legislation.
  • UK wasting billions on inheritance tax
    Jennifer Hill
    30.10.06
    Britons are taking steps to keep the inheritance they leave behind out of the taxman's coffers, but will still pay more than £1 billion in unnecessary inheritance tax this year.
  • Don't miss the opportunity
    Kirstie Redford
    26.10.06
    Sharesave schemes offer a low-risk investment with the potential for high returns, but you need to know how to handle them, says Kirstie Redford.
  • Pass on your mortgage debt
    24.08.06
    A new mortgage that allows homeowners to pass on their mortgage debt when they die - and cut any inheritance tax bill - is set to hit the UK market.
  • Take advantage of your IHT allowance
    Peter Harrap
    22.06.06
    Changing the ownership of a property to 'tenants in common' helps make use of you and your spouse's IHT allowance. Here are the pros and cons.
  • Tax the bankers
    Peter Temple
    30.05.06
    The Government's aiming at the wrong target by sticking the boot into footballers. Peter Temple would rather give the politicians a kicking - and City bankers.
  • A tax on family break-up
    Ceri Jones
    26.04.06
    New rules on trusts are a tax on family break-up. If the Government sticks to its guns, financial planning will be more taxing for divorcees, parents and anyone whose will involves a trust.
  • Dumbing down inflation figures
    Peter Temple
    29.03.06
    What kind of world are politicians living in? Asks Peter Temple. They're experiencing 2% inflation rates apparently, while the rest of us are seeing hikes of around 30% for some day-to-day costs…
  • How to save £100,000 in a day
    Rachel Lacey
    09.03.06
    Spend just one day focusing on tax planning and you could save yourself and your family more than most people earn in a year. Have a hearty breakfast then follow our step-by-step guide.
  • Cut your tax bill
    Sarah Das
    20.01.06
    The government is determined to stop us escaping big tax bills. But there are still ways to get round the latest clampdowns.
  • The Asia Energy rollercoaster
    Edmond Jackson
    15.01.06
    Asia Energy has big coal interests in Bangladesh, but needs to get a grip on the local politics. It proves investing directly in developing countries is here, is exciting and, of course, unpredictable.
  • What the pre-Budget report means for you
    Hannah Ricci
    06.12.05
    Gordon Brown admitted the UK economy is having a "tough year" in his Pre-Budget report yesterday, but said that it remains stable, despite high oil prices and slower house price rises
  • Gordon's sneaky taxes
    Martin Campbell
    23.11.05
    We take a side swipe at the draconian taxes that you may not have noticed, introduced by the Iron Chancellor Gordon Brown
  • The forgotten taxes
    23.11.05
    Although less visible than many taxes, there are still ways to save on Council Tax, stamp Duty and VAT
  • Understanding income tax
    Faith Glasgow
    12.10.05
    It's not fun, but as a necessary evil it helps to understand the ins and outs of what's taxable, at what rate, and what reductions you could be entitled to
  • Gordon's cleaning up…
    06.09.05
    as families are forced to settle IHT charges ahead of probate says Stephen McDowell
  • Looting our legacies
    Ceri Jones
    26.07.05
    Why should we care about saving, asks Ceri Jones, when the Government steals our inheritance?
  • Death and Taxes
    Steve McDowell
    07.04.05
    At the moment when sympathy is most required, the Revenue is becoming increasingly harsh, says Stephen McDowell
  • No saving grace
    Martin Campbell
    26.01.05
    Tax hikes, along with disincentives, have put the whole nation off saving
  • Pre-budget report
    02.12.04
    Gordon Brown has delivered his speech. Here are the main points