The Tax Factor

Concerned Employers, a Happy Homeowner, and Worried Filmmakers

This week on The Tax Factor, Rehana Earle and Neil Insull discuss the closure of the historic Beales department store after 144 years, blamed on rising taxes and a worsening business climate. With the CIPD warning of a prolonged drop in employer confidence, what does the future hold for the UK labour market?

Next, they examine a surprising tribunal victory, where a taxpayer successfully argued that their luxury property, complete with marble swimming pool and expansive wine cellar was their main home, defeating HMRC.

Finally, could President Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on TV and film production deal a major blow to Britain’s thriving creative industries?

A Life in Pensions

This week, we celebrate the retirement of Martin Reynard, pensions expert and longstanding Blick Rothenberg veteran, after nearly 40 years in the profession, including over three decades with the firm.

Martin reflects on the evolution of pensions and why, despite decades of change, they remain one of the most powerful and essential tools in financial planning today.

We look at why pensions still matter from tax relief and employer contributions to flexibility and intergenerational planning and explore the biggest shifts over Martin’s career: the highs of pension freedoms and growing personal control, and the lows of mis-selling scandals and creeping complexity.

VAT, R&D, and the Price of a City Break

This week John Bull and Ele Theochari explore the real impact of April’s tax changes from rising employer NICs and the scrapping of EV tax breaks to the end of holiday let perks. They discuss the Government’s sweeping new tax reform package, including 39 proposals to simplify the system, reduce compliance costs, and even shrink HMRC’s London footprint.

Also, this week, milkshakes may soon face sugar tax, Liverpool sidesteps legislation to bring in a tourist levy, and Wetherspoons fails to convince a tribunal that cider isn’t booze and a £400k R&D clawback case puts HMRC’s stricter claims regime in the spotlight.

TV Stars, Tax Scams & T-Rex Relief

This week on The Tax Factor, Heather and Sarah (celebrate!?) 20 years of HMRC with a look at its latest performance woes, from phone line chaos and missing repayments to the absurdity of pursuing a taxpayer for £600.

Also this week, Holly Willoughby’s agency gets a stern reminder that HMRC doesn’t do celebrity favours, a fake Greggs manager pockets pandemic cash, and a warning about getting caught in VAT carousel fraud. Plus: £150m in tax relief for Jurassic World and Ofgem’s bright idea that richer people should pay more for electricity. What next – tea bags? Loo roll?

Phonelines, Deadlines and Knighthoods

This week on The Tax Factor, Heather Self and Rehana Earle look at HMRC scaling back phonelines and webchat services to tackle fraud.

They discuss a recent SDLT case where timing could cost a taxpayer their refund, the tribunal sided with the taxpayer, but the battle may not be over yet.

Making Tax Digital is expanding to the self-employed and landlords, but a new survey reveals worrying gaps in public awareness, is HMRC doing enough to get the message out? And arise Sir Jeremy Hunt!

A Loss for Bunting, A Win for Guernsey, and an ISA nudge!

In this week’s episode of The Tax Factor, Roger Holman and Neil Insull look at the quiet storm that is April’s new tax landscape – changes may have been light in the Spring Statement, but the devil, as ever, is in the (Autumn Budget) detail.

In Guernsey, the Government has done the unthinkable: opened a tax drop-in centre where people can actually talk to someone. A bold move that feels very different from HMRC’s current approach.

There is the curious case of Timothy Bunting v HMRC, where an initially successful taxpayer ended up losing not only the argument, but also his cash and his relief and finally a timely nudge: It’s a good time to review your ISA’s.

So, Who’s celebrating “Liberation Day”?

John Bull and Robert Salter suggest that it’s time to move the tax year having been stuck on April 5th since 1752.

Whilst Trump’s “Liberation Day” dominates international headlines there is further turmoil in the US as DOGE makes sweeping cuts to the US social security system.

And here in the UK, the VAT battle on private school fees reaches the High Court. Could adding VAT to school fees be a breach of human rights?

 Spring Statement Special (or… not so special?)

This week on The Tax Factor, Blick Rothenberg CEO Nimesh Shah and Heather Self break down the Chancellor’s very uneventful Spring Statement. No surprises, no fiscal fireworks – but don’t be fooled.

With major tax changes hitting in April, your wallet will feel it. And as for the Autumn? Nimesh and Heather predict another ‘black hole’ in the public finances, so could Labour be forced to rethink pledges on pensions, Income Tax, VAT, or National Insurance?

The storm before the storm

This week John Bull and Malli Kini look at the latest tax stories making headlines and it’s clearly not been a great week for some.

Former Liverpool star and Sky Sports pundit Phil Thompson has more to worry about than his Club’s recent cup exits, as he’s just lost his IR35 appeal, leaving him with a hefty £300,000 tax bill.

Across the pond, the US tax scene is heating up, with the Administration planning to slash the IRS workforce by 20% by mid-May, while one of President Trump’s ambitious goals is to eliminate taxes altogether for those earning under $150,000.

Meanwhile, Uber’s Supreme Court appeal in July could drive up private taxi fares by 20% if VAT comes into play, so enjoy your cheap rides while you can. And finally, with the Spring Statement just around the corner, John and Malli are crossing their fingers for a quiet one.

Hair Transplants, HMRC Criticism & “a silly boy”

On this week’s Tax Factor, Ele Theohari and Tomm Adams look at a recent VAT tribunal case – are hair transplants a medical necessity or just cosmetic?

Meanwhile, HMRC is under fire again. While they’ve launched a dedicated service to clear long-standing PAYE and Self-Assessment queries, MPs are questioning their leadership structure and fairness in customer service.

Plus, we break down the latest IR35 data post-2021 reforms, changes to Beneficial Loan Arrangement rates, and the case of a tax evader who admitted he’d been “a silly boy” and has been handed an £850k civil recovery order.

Farmers, ISA’s and AI

This week on The Tax Factor, Ele Theochari and Rehana Earle discuss the latest consultation on Agricultural and Business Property Relief and look at potential implications for farm businesses.

They also review proposed changes to cash ISAs and consider whether the Chancellor will align with the needs of everyday savers. And with HMRC testing AI voice authentication, could this be the end of passwords and security questions?

Big Tax Receipts, Big borrowing and even bigger decisions needed by the Chancellor

This week Roger Holman and Neil Insull look at the record tax receipts in January. Looking forward to the Spring Budget Statement there are some big decisions about where to find more money. Perhaps controversially, Roger and Neil think Rachel Reeves should look at Fuel Duty and the late filing penalties.

Taxed & Confused: Trump, Musk & the UK’s Costly Collection

This week on The Tax Factor, Nimesh Shah is joined by US tax expert Michael Holland to break down Trump’s latest blunder on VAT; has someone got the wrong end of the tax stick?

Meanwhile, Elon Musk is diving into IRS tax data, but Michael warns it might not be the goldmine he expects.

And with the cost of running the UK tax system soaring, will HMRC find those elusive efficiencies or are we all in for an even bigger tax bill?

Tax Shocks & Tribunal Turns

This week on The Tax Factor, Nimesh Shah and Ola Adigun dive into the latest tax twists and surprises. Stats released by HMRC show year-end Self-Assessment filings have dropped unexpectedly, despite more people being expected to file.

Meanwhile a High-Income Child Benefit Charge case saw HMRC send in the bailiffs over £1,000, Trump’s tariff flip-flopping raises questions, and Ola unpacks a major tribunal ruling on the Tour Operators’ Margin Scheme (TOMS) that shakes up VAT for accommodation resellers.

Tax changes, reviews, court battles, and last-minute filing tips

This week on The Tax Factor, Nimesh Shah and Heather Self explore potential updates to non-dom tax rules, the fluctuating figures in wealth tax discussions, and a new loan charge review aimed at resolving the long-running controversy.

They also examine a recent High Court case in which American actor Mercer Boffey unsuccessfully argued that his Richmond home was exempt from Council Tax.

With the self-assessment deadline upon us, Nimesh and Heather share last-minute filing tips and highlight the latest HMRC scams to watch out for.

GMT, HMRC, NIC & VAT

In this week’s episode, Robert Salter and Gabby Donald look at the major tax developments making headlines. They discuss the Trump administration’s executive order to withdraw the US from the OECD’s Global Minimum Tax (GMT) deal  and ask: does this signal the demise of the GMT initiative?

While closer to home, the Public Accounts Committee has accused HMRC of providing subpar service and eroding public confidence in the UK tax system.

They also explore the case of a Norwegian company facing a 10-year National Insurance bill and the lessons learnt.

And Gabby shares why we’re not out of the woods yet when it comes to more tedious food VAT tribunals.

When is a sports drink not a sports drink?

Rehana Earle and Melissa Thomas look at the tax stories making headlines including the impact of HMRC staff strikes during the self-assessment filing season, and a Russian financier’s unusual claim that his bacon-smoking factory (complete with a wine cellar, pool room, and 40-foot bar) qualifies as a commercial space.

They also discuss the curious case of a taxpayer hit with late filing penalties despite having no UK tax liability and a game-changing VAT tribunal ruling that reclassifies powdered food supplements after a challenge to their classification as sports drinks.

Does the Chancellor have any New Year resolutions?

In the first Tax Factor episode of 2025, Robert Salter and Neil Insull look at the latest tax topics for the new year.

What are Rachel Reeves’ potential New Year resolutions and what are the implications of the recent NIC changes announced in the last Budget?

Other highlights include tips and holiday pay, R&D tax relief, and HMRC’s reporting requirements for trading on platforms like eBay and Airbnb. With the January tax return deadline fast approaching, Robert offers a timely reminder to get your tax return completed.

Two Budgets and an Election

In this Tax Factor Christmas Special, Nimesh Shah and Heather Self look back at some of the biggest tax stories of 2024.

Gary Lineker, Frankie Dettori and the non dom castle

This week on the Tax Factor, Heather Self and Neil Insull discuss two sports stars caught up in tax wrangles with HMRC.

They also chat about how Ann Kaplan Mulholland, the owner of Lympne Castle in Kent, wants the King to grant independence to her estate so she can sit outside of the UK after the Government abolished the non-dom tax status and how ahead of the Budget many people took tax free lump sums from their pensions, but now HMRC say cooling off periods do not apply, and payment of a tax-free lump sum cannot be undone.

How tax wizardry fell flat and a kebab tripped up a VAT fraudster

This week on The Tax Factor, Nimesh Shah and Malli Kini look at how the ‘Beatles tax clause’ has put a block on the tax ‘wizardry’ of Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint, landing him a £1.8m tax bill, and a notorious VAT fraudster who had evaded HMRC for several years was tracked and caught after buying a kebab in Wales.

They also discuss how HMRC have published their latest list of tax defaulters, and how paying tax on time is as important reputationally as paying the right amount.

Private School VAT challenges, Making Tax Digital and anonymity applications

This week on the Tax Factor, Ele Theochari and Gabby Donald look at the latest tax stories in the news.

These include a challenge surrounding VAT on school fees in relation to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCP) from local authorities and a heads-up on the implementation of HMRC’s ‘Making Tax Digital’ initiative for Income Tax self-assessment. They also look at why the clock is ticking on a high-stakes Upper Tribunal anonymity application, with a pivotal deadline looming on 11 December.

Farmers, Tax deadlines and Accountants charges

This week, Rehana Earle and Ele Theochari look at how Inheritance Tax changes could hit farmers hard, depending on timing.

They also discuss rising tax burdens worrying retailers, key updates and changes for 2023/24 returns, and the hot debate: should accountants charge for ad-hoc advice?

What can we expect from Donald Trump?

This week, Head of Private Client John Bull joins Rob Goodley to talk about what a Trump presidency is likely to mean for the UK.

They also look at rogue tax advisors and a tax ‘magic trick’ that HMRC took exception to, as well as a little talked about point in the Autumn Budget which they think is a good move.

The Story on Tax is Not Over

Following the Autumn Budget, Nimesh Shah and Roger Holman take a look at some of the areas that have angered farmers, small businesses and parents.

But was the Budget quite restrained? Nimesh suspects the story on Capital Gains Taxes is not over and there might there be more dramatic reform and change to come.

And with the appointment of Donald Trump as President, what does this mean for US Government policy – will it result in tax cuts and crypto rule relaxation?

Budget Special

Heather Self and Robert Salter look at some of the detail in the Autumn Budget statement including Employers National Insurance, The Child Benefit clawback and Capital Gains Tax changes.

They also ask whether the Chancellor missed an opportunity to take a strategic look at a tax system that is riddled with anomalies and inconsistencies.

Not the Budget Special

This week on The Tax Factor Matt Crawford and Neil Insull are NOT looking at the Budget.

Instead, we’re talking about the big picture issues facing the UK Tax system and the tax issues around the Employment Rights Bill.

National Insurance, Capital Gains Tax Reform and French tax hikes

On this week’s top-rated podcast, Roger Holman is joined by Rehana Earle to unpack the latest in tax developments.

With speculation growing that employer National Insurance contributions could be targeted by the Chancellor, we discuss whether the Government’s pledge to freeze rates for workers will shield employees from the impact. And is it time for a major overhaul of Capital Gains Tax to make it fit for purpose?

Meanwhile, across the Channel, France is rolling out ‘temporary’ tax hikes – but how long will they really last? And finally, Roger looks into the complexities of designing a wealth tax and why it proves to be so tricky.

Cruising, Capital Gains and CEO’s

This week Matt Crawford is joined by Blick Rothenberg CEO Nimesh Shah.

They look at the problematic tax issues of a life on the high seas cruising, Capital Gains Tax reform and a homage to retiring HMRC CEO Sir Jim Harra.

The Labour Party Conference, Non-doms, R&D stats and Maternity Pay

Join Rehana Earle and Ele Theochari as they unpack the biggest headlines from the Labour Party Conference. Are the non-dom tax proposals just a political gimmick, or could they really deliver the billions the Chancellor hopes for?

Ele dives into the latest R&D tax relief stats and why fewer claims might not be the bad news it seems – could HMRC finally be getting a grip on fraud? And we take a closer look at maternity pay and challenge Kemi Badenoch’s bold claims.

Side hustles, Budget thoughts, exit taxes and Jaffa cakes

This week Rob Goodley is joined by a new voice on The Tax Factor, Blick Rothenberg Head of Privat Client, John Bull.

They look at HMRC’s interest in ‘side hustles’, what we learnt from the Chancellor at the Labour Party conference, and the potential for an exit tax. We also pay tribute to John Brown, the man who successfully argued a Jaffa cake was a cake!

Pensions, football referees and suits

This week, Heather Self is joined by pensions expert Martin Reynard. They discuss whether the Chancellor could fill some of her £22Bn gap with a reduction on tax relief on pension contributions or the tax-free lump sum.

They also look at the impact of a ruling on the employment status of football referees and Heather disappoints Martin when she reveals that if Blick Rothenberg gives him a suit it’s a taxable benefit!

Apple, rugby commentators, employee data and Oasis

Our fifty-first podcast is brought to you by Matt Crawford and Melissa Thomas.  This week they look at the European Court of Justice upholding a 2016 decision that Ireland is required to recover 13 billion Euros from Apple and the Upper Tier Tribunal sides with HMRC in their case against Stuart Barnes regarding his employment status.

Matt discusses changes to the data employers are required to provide to HMRC regarding hours worked by employees and Melissa discusses how HMRC is an unlikely fan of the Oasis reunion.

Sunscreen, fraudulent R&D claims, and snail farms

It’s our 50th episode this week, this time with Heather Self and Ele Theochari.

In this episode we look back at some of the tax stories from the last year, current proposals to take VAT off sunscreen, fraudulent R&D claims, and if having a snail farm could save you some tax!

Short term pain for long term good?

Nimesh Shah and Heather Self look at what we can learn from Keir Starmer’s speech and what might happen in the Budget.

If the Government’s hands are tied on the big 4 taxes, are we looking at minor changes in the Budget? Where will the billions come from: frozen allowances, Fuel Duty, Air Passenger Duty, Capital Gains Tax, Pensions Relief or a more wholesale reform of the tax system? Would it be more courageous to break the manifesto pledge and put Income Tax up?

Top 5 Budget Predictions and bad news for those losing their hair

The Tax Factor returns from its Summer break with Roger Holman and Neil Insull.

They waste no time in giving their top 5 predictions for the October Budget and, in VAT news, how the First Tier Tribunal have decided hair loss treatment could not be zero-rated as hair loss is not a ‘disability’.