HMRC, the self-employed and the state pension
In my Blog ‘Millions of workers have inadequate pension provisions’ posted June 18th, 2026, I bemoaned the fact that the vast majority of the UK’s 4.5 million self-employed (SE), are currently making inadequate or no contributions into a private pension scheme for their retirement. Not only are the SE workforce not paying remotely enough for […]
How to challenge HMRC
If you have a complaint or any other issue with HMRC, it very much depends on what the problem is, before you attempt to challenge our wonderful tax office, as there a variety of ways to do so. It goes without saying, that choosing the best course of action, very much depends on what exactly […]
HMRC can now raid your bank account
Recently, HMRC announced that it plans to chase lower value tax debt more aggressively by direct recovery of debt powers being extended to lower value tax debts worth up to £10,000, with direct access to its’ ‘customers’ bank accounts, subject to a national consultation. Background The debate on this subject has been ongoing since 2015 […]
Are student loans a stealth tax?
Many readers of this Blog will either have a student loan themselves or have an employee who has one, but there is much confusion on the subject. So today I will attempt to give readers a simple guide on the subject, as well as highlighting some appalling errors by the Student Loan Company, aided and […]
HMRC plan to collect all tax by direct debit
Today’s Blog is about mounting HMRC concerns over late payment of VAT and PAYE. They are now looking at ways to combat this and their preferred option is that in future all such payments will no longer be down to the taxpayer but be taken by direct debit (DDM) on the day the payments are […]
Yet another sorry tale of taking advice from a mate down the pub
It seems like every few days that I hear of someone taking dodgy advice from a mate down the pub, rather than talking to a qualified accountant, with this week’s Blog being typical of a number of similar cases that have come to my attention recently. Today’s tale of woe involved an NHS nurse who […]
Do you have enough pension income for a comfortable retirement?
Today’s Blog is the third and final instalment of my in-depth look at pensions in the UK, following on from Can we still afford triple lock pensions? (posted on 11th June) & Millions of workers have inadequate pension provisions (posted on 18th June) with today’s offering concentrating on the level of income needed in retirement. […]
Why are gift baskets being targeted by HMRC?
I cannot think of anyone who, having received a basket of goodies as a present, would not be pleased. So, if you run a business, hampers given as gifts are often considered an ideal choice largely because: So, what is the problem you ask, well it’s those perennial party-poopers HMRC and their fixation with squeezing […]
New tax return impositions on company directors
On 5th April 2026 and for all future tax years, the rules governing the personal tax returns of company directors changed. They now have to include additional information when they complete their returns. On the surface, a cursory look at the new requirements, would appear to show that the additional information requested is only a […]
Huge tax bill because of advice from a mate down the pub
Today’s Blog is a classic example of not taking tax advice from a ‘mate down the pub’ and concerns a locum doctor’s £160k travel and subsistence expense claim falling down when subject to scrutiny at the First Tier Tax Tribunal (FTT) who found that he’d submitted “impossible” figures and made deliberate errors. Background Doctor Nwaneri […]
