Latest articles by Laura Miller
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Can I avoid IHT by stuffing all my money into a pension?IHT Pensions offer families a way to avoid IHT when passing on wealth to loved ones after death, but that’s all set to change. We explain the rules.
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What is Attendance Allowance? How certain pensioners can get £6k extra a yearThousands of pensioners are claiming Attendance Allowance for conditions such as back pain and arthritis and it doesn’t matter how much you have in savings. We explain the eligibility rules.
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How much solar panels cost in the UK – and are they worth installing?Solar panels are set to be at the forefront of the government’s plans to make the UK economy greener. But are they cost effective?
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What is the seven year inheritance tax rule and how does it help cut your bill?Families can lower their inheritance tax liability via the seven year rule. We explain how it works.
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New inheritance tax rules for businesses and farmers come into force – will your family be worse off?Business and agricultural property relief cuts took effect on 6 April, reducing the amount business owners and farmers can pass on free from inheritance tax. Who will be hit hardest?
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Does your portfolio need a review? How to give yours a spring cleanTips The start of the new financial year is a good time to look into your investments
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Making Tax Digital: what is it and who does it affect?Thousands of sole traders and landlords now have to start reporting their earnings digitally on a quarterly basis to HMRC after changes came in this April – here is what you need to know
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Probate cases taking nearly two years to be granted soar 131% – ways to cut the waitDelays to probate are on the rise with experts warning of worse to come once pensions are subject to inheritance tax rules from next April. But there are ways to help your loved ones now.
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Probate disputes jump 12% as inheritance fights increaseA thousand more applications to stop the probate process were lodged last year, as family fights over inheritances intensify.
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Rush to take pension lump sum early hits five year high over inheritance tax fearsThousands more 55 year olds took billions more from their pensions as soon as they could last year before the retirement pots become subject to inheritance tax from next April. We look at what to consider if you are cashing in.
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The 22-year retirement age gap – does your pension pot fall short of your saving ambitions?Just 14% of Brits are currently on track to retire at the age they want with their desired income, analysis suggests, with many heading decades off course.
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Government refuses to give families more time to pay inheritance tax on pensionsCalls to double the amount of time families have to pay inheritance tax when pensions are included from next April have been rejected by the government
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State pension entitlement gaps: Blow as National Insurance credit system delayed until April 2027A scheme to protect the state pension records of mothers affected by the introduction of the High Income Child Benefit Charge in 2013 has been delayed by a year.
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The elite £2m ISA club – here’s how to joinA £2 million ISA won’t be achievable for everyone – but almost 300 Brits have already reached this goal. How can you join them?
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Can I inherit my partner's ISA? Little-known tax break can boost your allowance by thousandsInheriting a partner’s ISA is fairly simple and comes with special advantages if you’re married or in a civil partnership – knowing what to do with it, however, isn’t always as straightforward
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Crypto investors sent 100,000 capital gains tax warning letters – do you need to pay tax?Investors in crypto assets have been sent 40 times more HMRC capital gains tax warnings than stock traders since 2020, a Freedom of Information request found.
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Millions face savings tax bills – how to shield your moneyMillions of Brits could face savings tax this year as their interest earned exceeds the personal savings allowance. Are you at risk?
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Pension tax relief: what it is and how it can boost your retirement savingsMost Brits don’t know their pension tax relief rate. As the end of the tax year approaches, savers may be missing a valuable opportunity to boost their retirement pot via this valuable perk.
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How to manage higher private school feesPrivate school fees have soared by thousands following the addition of VAT, and further increases could lie in store going forward. We explain how to manage the higher costs.
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What are ‘deprivation of assets’ care cost rules? – and how to stick to themCare costs can average £66,000 a year or more, which can leave little over for an inheritance. But if you give your money away and still need paid-for care, HMRC can demand the cash back. We explain ‘deprivation of assets’ rules when it comes to paying for care.
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Is it still worth paying into a pension in your 60s?What are the financial benefits of continuing to pay into a pension as you approach retirement age? In an exclusive analysis, we show the reality of pension saving into your 60s.
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How Avios points work: how to collect and spend themAvios points offer worthwhile rewards for the savvy traveller but the cost of using them is on the rise. We explain how to collect, keep track of, and make the most of your Avios points
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Three simple inheritance tax mistakes could cost your family £100,000s – are you missing out?About 3,700 more deaths resulted in inheritance tax in 2022-2023, according to the latest data from HMRC. But some families are paying more IHT than they need to because they are not taking advantage of valuable loopholes. We explain how.
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Pensioners ‘running down larger pots’ to avoid inheritance tax as rule change loomsChanges to inheritance tax (IHT) rules for unused pension pots from April 2027 could trigger an ‘exodus of large defined contribution pension pots’, as retirees spend their savings rather than leave their loved ones with an IHT bill.
