The Tax Factor

Westminster to Wimbledon: A Year in Tax

As the current series of The Tax Factor draws to a close, Nimesh Shah and Heather Self serve up a final episode looking back over the last 12 months. From the arrival of a new Labour government to the twists and turns of the Chancellor’s fiscal manoeuvrings, it’s been a year of tax drama, policy pivots, and HMRC under the microscope.

There’s a sense of déjà vu as we head into the summer break – more questions than answers, and a tax landscape still in flux. Plus, in honour of Wimbledon week, we can’t resist a final rally with the VAT query of the season: the M&S strawberries and cream sandwich.

Glastonbury Gains, Wimbledon Winnings & the Taxman’s Slice

This week on The Tax Factor Neil Insull and Suzanne Briggs look at Reform’s controversial proposal for a ‘Britannia Card’ that would let wealthy foreigners pay a £250k fee to move to the UK and live exempt from all tax, and a significant rise in HMRC investigations into high earners, signalling a more aggressive compliance strategy.

Elsewhere, the tax gap among SMEs is growing – what’s causing it, and how might it be closed? Plus, in estate planning news, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis may have struck the right chord with tax planning that could legally bypass £80 million in inheritance tax.

And finally, as Wimbledon serves up bigger prize pots, Neil and Suzanne reveal how it’s also serving HMRC a bigger slice of the winnings.

Non-Doms, School Fees & Tax Freedom Day is getting later!

This week on The Tax Factor Rehana Earle and Ele Theochari look at possible U-turns on the non-dom regime, with Rachel Reeves reportedly reconsidering inheritance tax on global assets amid City concerns.

They also discuss the High Court ruling that allows VAT on private school fees, rising tax receipts including a 14% hike in IHT, and a delayed Tax Freedom Day as fiscal drag bites. Plus, we revisit Making Tax Digital, with new guidance ahead of the rollout is HMRC going to be helpful to tax payers and agents around the new tax reporting framework?

Cruel Summer?

This week Roger Holman and Neil Insull discuss the Chancellor’s Spending Review and pose the critical question on everyone’s mind: “Where is the money coming from?” As opposition parties warn of a “cruel summer” filled with speculation. Roger and Neil also examine the logic and fairness of recovering Winter Fuel payments from pensioners through the tax system. Will HMRC really pursue thousands of small debts?

They also look at the case of former darts world champion Rob Cross, who has been disqualified from serving as a company director after failing to pay over £450,000 in taxes. With no further penalties imposed, is this the level of enforcement the public expects?

Spending Promises, HMRC Service Struggles and when is dance tuition Vatable?

This week on The Tax Factor, Ola Adigun and Robert Salter ask where the money might come from to fund the major Government spending pledges we’ve been hearing about. With little room for manoeuvre, Robert suggests the Chancellor may revisit measures such as fuel duty, car benefits, and road tax and could there be a U-turn on previous manifesto commitments?

Meanwhile, HMRC continues to battle poor public perception. Will the new outsourcing plans improve customer service, or just add to the frustration?

And in a less-than-rhythmic move, HMRC wins a tribunal ruling to impose VAT on personal dance tuition – a decision that could have broader implications for education providers.