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The badges of trade

The 'badges of trade' tests, whilst not conclusive, are used by HMRC to help determine whether an activity is a proper economic trade / business activity or merely a money-making by-product of a hobby. Careful consideration needs to be given to

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Gifts of shares to minor (under 18s) children

The settlement legislation seeks to ensure that, where a settlor has retained an interest in property in a settlement, the income arising is treated as the settlor’s income for all tax purposes. A settlor can be said to have retained an interest if

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Autumn Statement Summary

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has delivered his Autumn Statement to the House of Commons. The government continues to be faced with challenging economic conditions as the cost of living crisis continues to affect many families across

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£4.5bn for British manufacturing from 2025

The government has announced £4.5 billion in funding for British manufacturing to increase investment in eight sectors across the UK. The funding will be available from 2025 for five years, providing industry with longer term certainty about their

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Fuel price watchdog sharpens its teeth

UK motorists will be protected at the pumps under tough new powers that will shine a light on any attempt from retailers to unfairly hike up fuel prices. Under new amendments tabled on 15 November 2023, to the Digital Markets, Competition &

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Time to Pay tax

If you are having trouble paying your tax on time you may be eligible to receive support from HMRC. An online payment plan for Self-Assessment tax bills can be used to set up instalment arrangements for paying tax liabilities of up to

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Tax relief on pension contributions

Taxpayers can usually claim tax relief for their private pension contributions. There is an annual allowance for tax relief on pensions of £60,000 for the current 2023-24 tax year. The annual allowance was £40,000 in 2022-23. There is a three year

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Marriage allowance entitlement

The marriage allowance applies to married couples and those in a civil partnership where a spouse or civil partner does not pay tax or pay tax above the basic rate threshold for Income Tax (i.e., one of the couples must currently earn less than the

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Full expensing

The full expensing 100% first-year capital allowance for qualifying plant and machinery assets came into effect on 1 April 2023. To qualify for full expensing, expenditure must be incurred on the provision of “main rate” plant or

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Tax credits top-up

The Cost of Living support package has been designed to help over 8 million households in receipt of mean tested benefits. The details for Cost of Living Payments due in the 2023-24 tax year were published earlier this year and have recently been

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