12 strategies to keep your tax liability to a legal minimum The run-up to the tax year end on 5 April 2015 is the perfect time to consider tax planning opportunities and to put in place strategies to minimise tax throughout 2015/16.

New workers face a significantly longer working life than past generations The typical Briton entering the workforce today can expect to have nine jobs, including one major career change, across 48 years of working[1].

The key announcements at a glance Chancellor George Osborne delivered his Autumn Statement 2014 to Parliament on 3 December last year. Much of the commentary focused on weak public sector finances data in the context of strong GDP and employment growth.

The freedom to do as much or as little as you want with your pension Within the next decade, nearly half of those people (44%) due to retire will require professional financial advice to help them make financial choices, according to research[1] published by insurer Zurich.

Take your pension to the max Pensions have long been seen as a tax-efficient form of investment. The contributions that you pay into your pension will benefit from tax relief and aren’t subject to tax while they’re invested in your pension pot (although the tax credit paid with dividends can’t be reclaimed by your pension […]

Tax-deductible expenses If you’re self-employed, you can claim expenses against your tax bill, but not all business expenses qualify so it’s important to make sure your claim is valid. Unless something you buy for your business is a capital asset, for example, a computer or machinery (which you claim for under different rules), you can […]

Tax-free extra income By signing up to the ‘rent a room’ scheme, not only could you enjoy the extra income from the rent, but also up to £4,250 a year is free from tax. ‘Rent a room’ relief is an optional scheme that lets you receive up to this amount in rent each year from a […]

The main points that could affect you on tax, savings and spending from the Chancellor’s red box The Autumn Statement 2014 has once again created winners and losers. These are some of the main points that could affect you on tax, savings and spending.

Buyers benefit from a tax-free bracket and incremental steps up The change to residential property Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) announced in the Autumn Statement 2014 will make the process fairer for the majority of homebuyers. The new rules started on 4 December last year, and these changes apply to you if you are buying a […]

Telling ‘white lies’ about money and salary Almost half of British adults (48%) have ‘fibbed’ when it comes to their finances. The research shows that from a given list, Britons would be most likely to tell financial ‘white lies’ to their partner than anyone else (15%), according to a survey from Standard Life.