How fast have taxes risen? Gordon Brown has raised taxes by 50% in cash terms and 24% in real terms since taking over the Treasury, according to shadow chancellor Oliver Letwin. That includes 60 “stealth …
The battle of the big spenders
How Brown’s new taxes will affect your assets
The bad news Isas: From 2006-7, the maximum investment in an Isa will be cut from £7,000 to £5,000 (and the maximum in a cash Isa from £3,000 to 1,000). Higher-rate taxpayers “will be better …
How to give to charity – not the taxman
If you are planning to give to charity over the festive season, make sure you do so in the most tax-efficient manner. Two-thirds of us still don’t even think about tax when we give, but …
Want to get rich? Don’t overlook the little things
Are you richer than you think? The Government has given the financial services industry nine months to reunite an estimated £20bn of unclaimed cash with its rightful owners before it is turned over to the …
Diamonds could lose their sparkle in a Sipp
Being able to get tax breaks to buy a racehorse might sound thrilling, says Emma Simon in The Daily Telegraph, but, as with most Government innovations, the devil is in the detail. As of 6 …
Tax dodge of the week: how sharing a home with the kids can save on IHT tax
Prior to the introduction of the ‘gifts with reservation’ rules, people used to give their assets away, yet still enjoy the use of them, says the Schmidt Report. That is no longer possible and any …