Households across the UK are facing the prospect of a significant hike in council tax bills in the coming weeks. Cash-strapped councils are set to raise bills in April in a bid to overcome increasing funding gaps, despite households in England now paying an average of £1,770 a year in council tax, according to government
Spring is “the time of plans and projects”, wrote Leo Tolstoy in Anna Karenina. For hundreds of thousands of self-employed people and property owners, those words are ringing true – and have never felt more daunting. This spring, HM Revenue and Customs is introducing the biggest shake-up of the self-assessment tax system in decades. Known
Councillors are set to consider a proposed 2.4 per cent increase in the authority’s share of council tax. If approved, the Band D borough element would be set at £123.35, a rise of £2.89 for the year. In addition to the borough council’s charge, council tax includes precepts from Hampshire County Council, as well as
Earlier this month, Shropshire Council was one of seven local authorities given special permission by the government to increase council tax by more than the usual maximum of 4.99% A rise of 8.99% could be agreed when councillors meet next Thursday, meaning a band D equivalent property would pay £1,969.09 a year. On top of
You can pay too much tax if your details with HMRC are incorrect HMRC has explained the tax rules that apply to pensioners(Image: Getty) HMRC has outlined some important tax rules that apply to pensioners. It’s important to ensure all your information is current with the department, otherwise you risk paying an incorrect amount of
Many of those in line for a decent bonus this year may be left wondering what to do with it. Making a lump sum of any kind work hard for the future can be a quandary for the highest earners who hit pension limits and have little protection against the top rates of tax. The
For reference, the Audi RS3, which escapes the 2025 UK hike, clears the 2024 French threshold for a €60k ‘pollution tax’ by just 14g/km. The BMW M3 is in the top class too, though the heavily hybridised cars mentioned above, with CO2 figures under 100g/km (118g/km to be precise), get zilch. They might get tagged
Essential personal finance tips for people with savings or in work before the 2025/26 financial year ends on April 5. Mansion tax and private jet levy to be introduced in Scotland With the end of the tax year fast approaching, people still have time to review their finances and take full advantage of the allowances
Stay informed with free updates Simply sign up to the UK tax myFT Digest — delivered directly to your inbox. Few things win as much public approval as the notion of progressive tax changes. When the government is raising revenue, those with the broadest shoulders should bear the biggest burden. When there is a giveaway,
In some cases you could reclaim hundreds of pounds from HMRC 12:03, 18 Feb 2026Updated 12:52, 18 Feb 2026 Some jobs have higher allowances than others(Image: OGULCAN AKSOY via Getty Images) Thousands of employees throughout the UK could be owed cash back from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). If you wear a branded uniform, specialist