Pension Dashboard Programme Delayed… 12 June 2023 was a day of procrastination for the new Pensions Dashboard Programme, with a new deadline set for 2026. “[The Treasury] should challenge the industry to make a pensions dashboard available to consumers by 2019, bringing together industry and consumer representatives to help them set direction and drive progress.”

FCA Takes on Crypto: handle with great care The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) recently announced a plan for tougher regulations of cryptoassets, such as Bitcoin. Recently published research undertaken for the FCA showed that in August 2022, nearly five million UK adults owned cryptoassets, typically cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. That was more than

Not That Interested: savers short-changed on rate hikes. The Bank of England has been looking at the impact of its regular interest rate increases since December 2021, with analysis revealing savers are being short-changed.   Every three months the Bank of England issues a weighty Monetary Policy Report. In it the Bank sets out the

Tax is too complicated… say the legislators A parliamentary committee has been examining efforts to simplify tax, but progress is still a long way off. Among other things, last year’s ill-fated ‘mini-Budget’ was notable for the swiftness with which Jeremy Hunt reversed most of the proposals it contained. The promise of reduced corporation tax and

The Prime Minister has met his pledge of halving inflation, but we’re not out of the woods yet. Source: ONS, Ofgem. In the first week of 2023, the then still new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, set out “five immediate priorities” for his government. The first of these was: “We will halve inflation this year to

It’s that time of year again when financial gifts may be given… and HMRC is watching. Tax is never far away from anything you do and making gifts to children at Christmas is no exception. There are a few key tax areas you should bear in mind. Inheritance tax (IHT) As with any gift you

A survey of 6,000 people, aged 18 to 80, revealed starkly different views on retirement across the generations. According to the Office for National Statistics, the median age of the UK population in mid- 2021 was 40.7 years, up from 39.6 in mid-2011. Perhaps that gradual ageing and the impact of Covid-19 on working patterns

Forget Yul Brynner, Steve McQueen et al. There is another more significant septet in the United States these days. The original version of ‘The Magnificent Seven’ was released in 1960 and remains to this day an iconic Western film. However, the term ‘Magnificent Seven’ now has a very different meaning for many in the US.

The Chancellor’s national insurance contribution (NICs) ‘giveaway’ is no match for his income tax ‘takeaway’. The central surprise in Jeremy Hunt’s second Autumn Statement was a major reduction in NICs. • For employees From 6 January 2024, the main class 1 contribution rate on earnings between £12,570 and £50,270 will be reduced from 12% to