Governments
What the Budget Could Mean for Your Money: Six Big Tax and Finance Changes to Watch
Income tax, pensions, property, ISAs and more – here’s what to expect from the Budget and how you can prepare. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has set the stage for significant tax and spending changes in her autumn Budget on 26 November 2025. Millions of homeowners, savers, and pensioners could be affected. With two weeks to go…
Read MoreNovember 2025 Newsletter
We’re pleased to share the November 2025 edition of the Mercian Accountants Newsletter. With the Autumn Budget set for 26 November, attention is turning to how the Chancellor will balance the public finances while maintaining her pledge not to raise Income Tax, VAT, or National Insurance. As we mark Remembrance Sunday, we also take a…
Read MoreOctober 2025 Newsletter
Welcome to the October 2025 edition of the Mercian Accountants Newsletter. With the Autumn Budget 2025 confirmed for 26 November, attention is fixed on how the Chancellor might tackle the public finance deficit and what that could mean for taxpayers and businesses. Before then, measures from the Autumn Budget 2024 are expected to come into…
Read MoreAngela Rayner’s £40,000 SDLT Error – and How You Can Avoid It
The recent headlines about Angela Rayner’s property purchase may have caught your attention. While the political story has dominated coverage, the more important takeaway for most people is that Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is rarely straightforward. Where trusts or complex family arrangements are involved, the rules can be particularly difficult to navigate. What appears…
Read MoreNew Increase to Statutory Legacy on Intestacy
From July 26th (2023), the government has confirmed an increase to the Statutory Legacy on intestacy, from £270,000 to £322,000 (fixed net sum). When someone who has children passes away without a Will (otherwise known as “intestate”), this is the value of personal possessions that the surviving spouse or civil partner is entitled to first,…
Read MoreThe Renters (Reform) Bill – How Will it Affect Landlords?
Introduced to Parliament on 17th May 2023, the Renters (Reform) Bill proposes a new set of measures for the private rental property market – from abolishing Section 21 evictions to ending fixed-term tenancies. Though the bill hasn’t yet become law, it’s essential for landlords to identify what elements may be of concern so that they…
Read MoreInheritance Tax (IHT) Receipts by HMRC Up 18% Since 2022
HMRC has released data that Inheritance Tax (IHT) receipts have increased by 18% in January 2023, compared to the financial year prior – currently, receipts are at £5.9 billion, which is £900 million higher than last year. This increase has been driven by HMRC targeting high-value estates, the increase in house prices from 2020-2022, and…
Read MoreHMRC Investigates Airbnb Landlords with Short-Term Lettings
HMRC is writing to landlords who may have undeclared income from short-term lets and holiday homes – with online platforms such as Airbnb and Booking.com now obliged to provide payment data to the government. The number of individuals with unreported income on second homes is believed to be around 700,000, about a third of landlords…
Read MoreHMRC Chases 4,300 Influencers and Content Creators Over Tax
To keep up with the rapid expansion of the digital economy, HMRC is chasing thousands of influencers and content creators, including gamers and retailers, for taxes that haven’t been paid on income or gifts received online. This includes people who earn money in exchange for product promotion, as well as those who are paid by…
Read MoreRecovery Loan Scheme (RLS) Re-Launched for SMEs
The Recovery Loan Scheme has entered a new phase to provide SMEs with easy access to finance to invest in their business’s growth. This revised scheme is planned to run until 2024, has replaced CBILS and Bounce Back Loans, and is still open to eligible businesses that have already taken out government-backed finance. For most,…
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