9 January 1799: income tax introduced to Britain
9 January 1799: income tax introduced to Britain
In the 1790s, with Britain at war with Napoleon, the country urgently needed cash. And so on this day in 1799, a 10% levy was raised on all income ove…
9 Jan 2021
Reform of IR35 tax rules returns for freelancers
Reform of IR35 tax rules returns for freelancers
The delayed shake-up of employment law governing freelancers kicks in soon
24 Dec 2020
Britain mulls a wealth tax again – can it ever work?
Britain mulls a wealth tax again – can it ever work?
A Covid-19-ravaged government needs to raise more revenue and some propose that a wealth tax could fit the bill. It’s unlikely to happen, but one way …
19 Dec 2020
Small businesses rush to beat the capital gains tax hike
Small businesses rush to beat the capital gains tax hike
Corporate finance advisers report a surge in inquiries from small business owners keen to sell their companies before a likely increase in capital gai…
11 Dec 2020
The “economic emergency” isn't nearly as bad as it could have been
The “economic emergency” isn't nearly as bad as it could have been
If you listened to Rishi Sunak’s Spending Review, you might be feeling a little down. But don't worry too much. Things might not be anywhere near as b…
26 Nov 2020
How to avoid inheritance tax by giving your money away
How to avoid inheritance tax by giving your money away
Ruth Jackson Kirby explains how to avoid inheritance tax by passing money on to your family while you are still here.
24 Nov 2020
How you will play your part in refinancing the post-Covid economy
How you will play your part in refinancing the post-Covid economy
All this stimulus has to be paid for – whether through inflation, tax rises, or financial repression. It's going to be an uncomfortable experience, sa…
19 Nov 2020
Subscribe to MoneyWeek and get your first six issues FREE
Subscribe to MoneyWeek now and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Rishi Sunak's multibillion-pound tax raid
Rishi Sunak's multibillion-pound tax raid
Rishi Sunak is seeking to fill a £300bn-sized hole in the public books. Investors beware, says Emily Hohler
19 Nov 2020
Why the government shouldn't raise taxes
Why the government shouldn't raise taxes
Tackling our deficit with new levies would be economically and politically suicidal, says Max King.
12 Oct 2020
Why the government should stop messing about and just abolish stamp duty
Why the government should stop messing about and just abolish stamp duty
If Boris Johnson is serious about getting more people on the housing ladder, he should stop messing about with complicated incentives that only reward…
8 Oct 2020
How the stamp duty holiday is pushing up house prices
How the stamp duty holiday is pushing up house prices
Stamp duty is an awful tax and should be replaced by something better. But its temporary removal is driving up house prices, says Merryn Somerset Webb…
25 Sep 2020
Universal Credit comes good
Universal Credit comes good
The government’s benefit reforms have been plagued with disasters since their introduction in 2013. The Covid-19 crisis, however, has revealed a posit…
21 Sep 2020
The stamp-duty stampede
The stamp-duty stampede
There has been a surge in people wanting to move house before the stamp duty holiday ends next year.
11 Sep 2020
Mind the inheritance-tax trap when transferring your pension
Mind the inheritance-tax trap when transferring your pension
Transferring your pension could incur inheritance tax for your heirs, says David Prosser.
9 Sep 2020
The case for a flat tax
The case for a flat tax
Simplifying the tax system promises to cut incentives for evasion and avoidance, and boost work and entrepreneurship. Could it give post-Covid-19 Brit…
29 Aug 2020
How to claw back tax overpaid when opting for pension drawdown
How to claw back tax overpaid when opting for pension drawdown
Many retirees opting for drawdown schemes – taking money out of their pension savings – have overpaid tax. Here’s what to do to get it back.
26 Aug 2020
Should capital gains tax be higher or lower?
Should capital gains tax be higher or lower?
Capital gains tax is up for review. There are plenty of long-term arguments to be had about this. But in the short term, Merryn Somerset Webb has a fe…
23 Jul 2020
How to have a low-tax retirement in the sun
How to have a low-tax retirement in the sun
Greece is to offer a ten-year tax incentive to foreign pensioners. That’s a pretty good offer, says Merryn Somerset Webb. But it might not last.
20 Jul 2020
Can Rishi Sunak save the economy with stamp duty cuts and half-price meal deals?
Can Rishi Sunak save the economy with stamp duty cuts and half-price meal deals?
John Stepek runs his eye over the chancellor's £30bn stimulus package and asks if it's enough to get the economy back on its feet after months of lock…
9 Jul 2020
Are you due a refund on your inheritance tax bill?
Are you due a refund on your inheritance tax bill?
If you’ve paid inheritance tax recently, you may well be due some of your money back. Here’s how to tell
23 Jun 2020