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Pension Wise, the free advice service set up to promote and advise on pensions reform and annuity freedoms, is to be merged with other publically funded advice services on pensions, to create a single website and advisory service.

The Low Incomes Tax Reform Group (LITRG) believes that the merger is a great opportunity for the new unified service to better help those on low incomes. Commenting on the merger, LITRG chairman, Anthony Thomas, said:
‘Advice on money matters has previously been delivered in penny packets by bodies specialising in discrete…

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) recently published a series of recommendations following its simplification review of small company taxation (see OTS recommends simplifications for small companies, April 2016 newsletter). The review focused on incorporated businesses with fewer than 10 employees, known as ‘micro’ businesses, of which there are now some 4.1 million in the UK, with 1.3 million operating through a company structure.

Currently, the UK operates a corporate tax regime on a ‘one-size fits all’ basis, modelled on a traditional company, with third party shareholders and clear…

Tax has become a political hot topic in recent years, but the fact remains that sensible tax planning within the law – making sure you take advantage of the allowances and incentives that the Government has deliberately put in place – is perfectly sound practice.

If you have any questions or would like one-to-one advice tailored to your needs, please call us on 01792 466 428 or email [email protected].

Q1. How do I work out my share of a capital gain?

I owned a quarter share in a property that was sold in 2015. It was not my main residence at any time during my period of ownership. I am trying to work out my share of the capital gain arising on the property. Do I simply divide the purchase price, sale price, and any improvement costs by four to work out how much tax I will have to pay?

A: Assuming that all the improvement costs and the…

Repayment of student loans is a shared responsibility between the Student Loans Company (SLC) and HMRC. Employers have an obligation to deduct student loan repayments in certain circumstances and to account for such payments ‘in like manner as income tax payable under the Taxes Acts’ (Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2000, SI 2000/944, reg 14).

With effect from 2016/2017 there are two plan types for student loan repayments:

– plan 1 with a 2016/2017 threshold of £17,495 (£1,457 a month or £336 per week);
– plan 2 with a 2016/2017 threshold…