Specialist Tax News

Business tax

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Motor vehicles Continuing the topic seen above on double cab pick-up vehicles, a similar change in approach applies in relation to plant and machinery capital allowances claims. From April 2025, most double cab pick-up vehicles with a payload of 1 tonne or more will need to be treated as cars for capital allowances purposes. This […]

Specialist Tax News

National Insurance for the self-employed

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Self-employed individuals pay Class 2 and Class 4 National Insurance Contributions (NICs). The relevant rates and thresholds are:   2025/26 2024/25 Class 2 NICs per year – mandatory* £nil £nil Class 2 NICs per year – voluntary* £182.00 £179.40 Small profits threshold (SPT) £6,845 £6,725 Lower profits limit (LPL) £12,570 £12,570 Upper profits limit (UPL) […]

Specialist Tax News

Tax regime for furnished holiday lets

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If you let out residential or commercial property, the profits are taxed as part of your ‘other income’. If you sell property that has been rented out, capital gains tax is likely to apply. Generally, rental business activity attracts fewer tax reliefs than trading ventures. However, if a residential property meets the strict definition of […]

Specialist Tax News

VAT

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From 1 April 2025, the VAT registration and deregistration thresholds will remain at £90,000 and £88,000 respectively. There have been no changes to the rates of VAT and the standard rate continues to be set at 20%. In a key change to VAT, private school fees, which have been exempt from VAT, will be made […]

Specialist Tax News

Corporate taxes

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Rates from 1 April 2025 Corporation tax rates and thresholds for the financial year to 31 March 2026 remain unchanged as follows: Financial year to 31 March 2026 Main rate 25% Small profits rate 19% Small profit threshold £50,000 Main rate threshold £250,000 Marginal relief fraction 3/200 Effective marginal relief rate 26.5% The thresholds must […]

Specialist Tax News

Pensions

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Despite numerous rumours of possible changes to the taxation of pensions in the run up to the budget, the Chancellor decided not to make significant changes after all. The ability to receive a 25% tax-free lump sum of up to £268,275 (or higher in some cases) remains. Individual contributions continue to attract income tax relief […]

Specialist Tax News

Inheritance tax

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The main rate of IHT remains at 40%, reduced to 36% for estates where 10% or more is left to charity. The IHT nil rate band will continue to be frozen at £325,000 until 2030. The additional nil rate band for passing on the family home to direct descendants (residence nil rate band) will also […]

Specialist Tax News

UK residency and domicile

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Significant tax changes have been announced for UK resident non-domiciled individuals; namely those individuals spending most of their time in the UK but without permanently settling here. The concept of ‘domicile’ will be removed from the UK tax system and replaced by a regime based on years of tax residence. Income and capital gains taxes […]

Specialist Tax News

Stamp Duty

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England and Northern Ireland – thresholds It has been confirmed that the 0% thresholds for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) will be reduced from 1 April 2025 as follows:   From 1 April 2025 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025 Main threshold £125,000 £250,000 First-time buyers’ threshold £300,000 £425,000 SDLT on additional dwellings such […]

Specialist Tax News

Dealing with HMRC

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Interest on unpaid tax liabilities From 6 April 2025, the late payment interest rate charged by HMRC on unpaid tax liabilities will increase by 1.5 percentage points. For most taxes, this will set late payment interest at the Bank of England base rate plus 4%. In conclusion As we approach 2025/26, we know a number of […]