Five major UK banks have agreed a £11 billion lending package aimed at SMEs to support small business growth, the government has announced. The lending commitment is one of the largest collective moves by the banking sector in over a decade. The government says this represents an ‘historic show…
Pubs and live music venues in England will be given a 15% discount on their business rates bills from April and will not see increases for two years, the government announced. It comes after a backlash against November's Budget, which…
Despite falling behind its peers the UK economy could be on the brink of a turnaround so the government must up rather than run-down its growth strategy, says the Resolution Foundation. A report by the think tank warns that the…
Small businesses such as cafes, shops and hairdressers are facing three years of business rates misery with an average 52% hike in bills, analysis from the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has revealed. This is due to the removal of…
More than 4,600 self assessment taxpayers filed their tax return on Christmas Day, according to data from HMRC. In total, 37,435 customers filed between 24 and 26 December. Christmas Eve was the most popular day with 22,350 tax returns filed…
Use of the HMRC app surged last year as millions of users downloaded it for the first time, according to the tax authority’s figures. HMRC says the app was downloaded 4.2 million last year and people logged in to the…
A third of UK firms are worried about their business rates, according to data from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Concern is at its highest since the BCC began keeping track. It is most acute in the hospitality sector,…
More than 4,800 self assessment scams have been reported since February 2025, according to data released by HMRC. The tax authority says scammers are using persuasive and threatening tactics to target people when they are more likely to receive correspondence…
The Spring Statement has been scheduled for 3 March 2026 by the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves. Ms Reeves has asked the Office for Budget Responsibility to prepare an economic and fiscal forecast for publication on that date. The…
The level of the Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) thresholds will be increased from £1 million to £2.5 million, the government has announced. The change will allow spouses or civil partners to pass on up to…
