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As the Autumn Budget approaches, Government bonds are coming back into the spotlight.  In what can seem like an effort to confuse, Government bonds are often referred to as gilts. There are two good reasons for the name:  In the distant era of paper certificates, Government bonds were on gilt-edged paper. There has never been […]

The ingredients to determine next April’s increase in the State pension are now clear and suggest a problem deferred until the 2026 Budget.          The basis for increases to the old and new State pension is the ‘triple lock’, which sets the change in April to be the greater of: Earnings growth […]

A new survey has revealed a high level of public unawareness of impending pension changes and the need to plan.  While there is plenty of media attention on what surprises might emerge in the November Budget, new research has suggested that many people are unaware of pensions reforms and changes to tax already in train.  […]

New research from HMRC show company cars are becoming more common – and greener. Recent statistics issued by HMRC show that company car ownership (the top line) is enjoying a revival after a 25% fall between 2015/16 and 2020/21. The reason for the increase is largely explained by the second line, which shows electric company […]

The Government has announced the revival of the Pensions Commission, over 20 years after it was first launched.  In late 2002, Tony Blair’s Labour Government asked Lord Turner to chair a Pensions Commission that would examine the future of non-State pension provision. The move was prompted by concerns that the rapid closure of private sector […]

The Government has published its reply to the many responses made to last October’s consultation paper on bringing pensions within the scope of inheritance tax (IHT).  In last October’s Budget, the Chancellor announced two major changes to IHT, both of which were immediately put out to consultation. The first, which takes effect in April 2026, […]