Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her Spring Forecast 2026 – widely referred to as the Spring Statement – in the House of Commons on 3 March. In a deliberately low-key address, she updated MPs on the Office for Budget Responsibility’s (OBR) latest economic projections without introducing any new tax rises, spending commitments or policy shifts. For […]
The Employment Bill set out plans to improve gender equality in the workplace, by extending reporting requirements for large employers. Following Royal Assent of the Employment Rights Bill, on 18 December 2025, The Employment Rights Act 2025 will bring forward requirements for employers with 250 or more employees will have the option to produce and […]
Read articleLast year the eligibility criteria for Winter Fuel Payments in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and the Pension Age Winter Heating Payment in Scotland were expanded so that more pensioners would be eligible. We previously advised of the Government’s intention to seek recovery of overpayments through the tax system by adjusting tax codes and now confirm […]
Read articleFrom 6 April 2026, the UK is introducing significant updates to family-friendly employment rights under the Employment Rights Act. These reforms remove long-standing qualifying service periods for certain types of leave, making it easier for new parents—especially fathers and partners—to access time off when welcoming a child. The headline change: employees can now give notice […]
Read articleUK employers are being urged to prepare for significant changes to student loan repayments as a new repayment plan—Plan 5—takes effect from 6 April 2026, marking its first year of deductions through the PAYE system. Introduced for students in England who began undergraduate courses, PGCE programmes, or Advanced Learner Loans on or after 1 August […]
Read articleAvoiding Tax Traps: A Warning for Agency Workers and Contractors Moving Between Umbrella Companies If you’re an agency worker or contractor operating through an umbrella company, it’s vital to be aware of the risks of becoming involved often unknowingly in tax avoidance schemes. HMRC has issued warnings about certain umbrella companies that promote these schemes, […]
Read articleUK tackles “gagging” NDAs in landmark workers’ rights reform What’s happening?The UK government has introduced amendments to the Employment Rights Bill that would ban the use of NDAs (non-disclosure agreements) designed to silence victims of workplace harassment or discrimination, including sexual harassment. Any confidentiality clause in a settlement that aims to stifle such disclosures would […]
Read articleThe Chancellor set out plans in the 2025 Budget to introduce a mileage levy on owners of electric and plug-in hybrid electric cars (PHEV), by charging a 3p per mile for drivers of electric cars and rate of 1.5p per mile for PHEVs. Whilst drivers of petrol and diesel cars pay tax on how much […]
Read articleIn a significant step towards addressing long-standing inequalities, the UK government has unveiled reforms to the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) that will benefit millions of women, particularly those in frontline public service roles. The changes, set to take effect from April 2026, target the persistent gender pension gap a disparity where women often retire […]
Read articleHM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced a strong turnout for the Self Assessment deadline, with more than 11.48 million taxpayers successfully filing their tax returns for the 2024 to 2025 tax year by the 31 January cutoff. The figures, released on 3 February 2026, highlight a high level of compliance amid the annual rush […]
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