News
News
Would you benefit from a top up contribution to your State Pension?
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) have revealed that 37,000 people have plugged gaps in their National Insurance (NI) record since last April, boosting the amount of State Pension they will receive when they reach retirement age.
Base rate cut to 4.5%
The Bank of England reduced their base rate to 4.5% last week, as had been widely expected in the days leading up to the decision.
Reforms to pensions proposed in order to drive growth
The Prime Minister and Chancellor met with business leaders last week and unveiled proposals to give occupational defined pension schemes more flexibility.
Is cash still king?
The new economic secretary to the Treasury, Emma Reynolds, has said that there are no plans to regulate businesses, whether big or small, to compel them to accept cash.
Chancellor’s speech: An update on economic growth measures
The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, delivered a speech last week that served as an update on the government’s plans for delivering economic growth.
Why you should prioritise tax planning before the tax year ends
As the UK tax year-end approaches on 5 April, it’s an excellent time for you to review your business finances and explore tax planning opportunities, particularly if you are self-employed. Tax planning can help you to reduce tax liabilities, boost your cash flow and put you in a stronger financial position.
HMRC’s phone service criticised … again
A report released by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has further criticised HM Revenue & Custom’s (HMRC) phone service. It found that nearly 44,000 customers were cut off without warning after being put on hold for more than an hour in the first 11 months of last year.
What do rising government borrowing costs mean for your business?
Recent economic developments have sparked concerns among UK businesses. Government borrowing costs surged in December to their highest levels in four years, and this has drawn heavy criticism of the Chancellor’s fiscal strategy.
Renters’ Rights Bill continues to progress
The Renters’ Rights Bill returned to Parliament for debate last week and included some new changes.
Government pushes AI adoption as part of growth strategy
The government launched an AI opportunities action plan last Monday that aims to ramp up AI adoption across the UK.
Inflation falls to 2.5%: What this means for your business
The latest figures reveal that UK inflation fell slightly in December, down to 2.5% from 2.6% in November.
Balancing AI's promise and pitfalls
Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to bring benefits across many industries, including healthcare diagnostics and consumer technology. However, as its applications expand, so do concerns about its accuracy and potential for misuse. Two recent examples—the use of AI in detecting ovarian cancer and its controversial implementation in summarising news—illustrate both the transformative potential and the risks of AI.