The Autumn Budget at the end of November announced important changes to come for individual savings accounts (ISAs) from April 2027, but you may not be affected. (1) Source: HMRC (2) November’s Budget announced a range of changes to ISAs, the full extent of which did not become clear immediately. While the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) managed to publish its primary document before the Chancellor spoke, HMRC and the Treasury were slow in releasing information throug

While reforms to the pension salary sacrifice rules are not scheduled to take effect until April 2029, it is important to understand the implications of the changes now.* Salary sacrifice has become an increasingly common way for employees to make their pension contributions, with most major employers offering schemes. It currently has some important advantages for employees over choosing to pay contributions from the after-tax salary: There are no employee national insurance

The government made a surprise tax announcement in late December when the country’s attention was otherwise engaged. ‘A good day to bury bad news’ is a notorious political phrase that still rings true.(1) More than two decades later, it seems that the UK government’s communication strategies often cloud rather than clarify awkward news. December provided two classic examples. On the 18th, the last day of parliament before recess, the government issued no less than 13 written

The government has launched a consultation on a new way of drawing pension benefits.* Unless you work for Royal Mail, you probably have not heard of Collective Defined Contribution (CDC) pension schemes. The scheme is most easily understood as a halfway-house between: Defined benefit (DB) schemes: which offer guaranteed benefits (usually related to final or averaged salary) funded by variable contributions. Defined contribution (DC) schemes: which offer variable benefits, fun

Landlords need to prepare for the changes coming next year from the Renters Rights Act, which recently received Royal Assent. While detailed guidance is yet to be published, the first phase of reforms will be introduced from 1 May 2026.(1) There are several provisions which those engaged in property letting will need to take into account in their dealings with tenants. Tenancies All existing assured shorthold tenancies will automatically convert to the new tenancy system. All

A government announcement has set tuition fees in England on a rising path once more.*/** In October, the UK Government announced a range of changes for post-16 education. What grabbed headlines were details of the proposed new ‘V Levels’, which will be “new vocational qualifications tied to rigorous and real-world job standard”.1 V Levels will form part of a new educational goal for two-thirds of young people to participate in higher-level learning – academic, technical, or