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We reminds clients to ‘hope for the best but plan for the worst’. This has served well over many years of capital tax planning.

The recent announcement that Inheritance Tax (IHT) mitigation via transfers into trust is likely, in future, to be included in the Disclosure of Tax Avoidance Schemes (Dotas) regime is not good news.

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Consumer Confidence This week saw consumer confidence drop to its lowest level for 15 months, it also saw the pound falling against the US Dollar as investors became nervous about the state of the world economy.Consumers are perhaps worried about the level of disposable income they will have over the months ahead and the emergency […]

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How long till the economic outlook will be considered “normal”? Bank of England governor Mervyn King believes it will be a long time before the economic outlook will be considered “normal”. Wider economic problems around the world underline the fact that we cannot be confident that the recovery in demand, output and employment in the […]

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Emergency money lending – where to turn when you need cash Apart from the obvious one for those still blessed with the option of the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’, who do you turn to for a quick, short-term loan? Payday loan companies thrive on high interest rates and huge APRs, but some people love […]

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Capital Gains Tax – where are we now? Pre-Budget Report, 9th October 2007 – CGT flat rate of 18% for gains on non-business assets made on or after 6th April 2008. 6th April 2010 – income tax rate of 50% for those with incomes in excess of £150,000. This all adds up to a differential […]

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VAT – Budget rise in sales tax was ‘unavoidable’ says Chancellor We all pay it and we’ll all feel it. The increase in the rate of VAT to 20% from 4th January next year will bring in £13 billion of extra revenue over the lifetime of the current parliament. In his first Budget as Chancellor, […]

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Rise in Capital Gain Tax UK could hit basic rate taxpayers The rise in Capital Gains Tax will hit some middle income earners who have invested in assets such as property over many years, tax experts have warned. The announcement made in the budget last month by Chancellor George Osborne, revealed that the CGT rate […]

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On 16th June 2010, George Osborne gave his first Mansion House speech as Chancellor of the Exchequer.  In his speech, he announced radical changes in the UK’s financial regulations, which includes the abolition of the current tripartite system.

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Why are house prices still rising? - Bluebond Tax Planning

Why are house prices still rising? It’s no surprise to hear that the country’s finances are ‘in a mess’. It is surprising to learn that house prices continued to rise in May and are now just 9.5%...

CPI annual inflation – the Government’s target measure – was 3.7% in April, up from 3.4% in March.  The largest factors to the change in the CPI annual rate between March and April came from the rise in prices for clothing and footwear, food and non-alcoholic beverages and alcoholic beverages and tobacco.

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Why are house prices still rising? It’s no surprise to hear that the country’s finances are ‘in a mess’. It is surprising to learn that house prices continued to rise in May and are now just 9.5% below the October 2007 peak, according to figures from Nationwide. This is more surprising as a higher unemployment […]

It’s no surprise to hear that the country’s finances are ‘in a mess’.  It is surprising to learn that house prices continued to rise in May and are now just 9.5% below the October 2007 peak, according to figures from Nationwide.

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Tthe new government intends to reduce the amount of money that children receive at birth from £250 to just £50 from 1st August 2010.

New chancellor George Osborne has advised that Child Trust Funds will be scrapped in January.  What does that mean to people who already have an account and those who are expecting a baby?

Child Trust Funds (CTFs) were intended to give children a financial head start in life.  Currently, every baby born after 31st August 2002 receives at least £250, with children getting a top-up payment from the government (usually £250) when they turn seven (both in voucher form).

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Well, the good news is yes you can, as long as the total spend is under £150 per member of staff.This can cover the cost of the food, drink and also the costs of transport and accommodation.

So if Chelsea do the double (come on you Blues), or heaven forbid England do well in the World Cup, can you throw a tax free party for your employees?

Well, the good news is yes you can, as long as the total spend is under £150 per member of staff. This can cover the cost of the food, drink and also the costs of transport and accommodation.

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Many people wrongly cover different people for the same level of insurance when the implications of the above are rarely the same.

Most people understand the need for backing up their computers on a daily basis and even making sure another copy is kept off site to make sure data is kept safe in the event of computer breakdown, flood or fire. Most sensible business owners have contingency plans in place to cover many eventualities with regard to running their business properly. Nearly everyone has home and contents insurance.

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As the inheritance tax nil rate band is now frozen for at least 4 years it seems that people are considering gifting money to their children.

As the inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate band is now frozen for at least 4 years it seems that people are considering gifting money to their children to avoid this tax and also help their children onto the property ladder.

These days credit is no longer easy to come by and lenders require large deposits and have much tighter lending criteria. Many first time buyers find it impossible to make that first step without help from Mum and Dad. However, many Mums and Dads find themselves in the position where they are likely to pay large amounts of IHT and so passing it on to the children  now rather than later seems a sensible approach