Bank of England delivers narrow vote rate cut

The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) last met on 18 December and, in a narrow 5–4 vote, decided to reduce the interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 3.75%. All four dissenting members voted to keep the rate at 4%. This marks...

Increase in savings guarantee for bank deposits

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) has raised its savings guarantee for bank deposits, increasing the deposit protection limit from £85,000 to £120,000 per person. This change came into effect on 1 December 2025 and marks a significant...

The likely direction of interest rates in 2026

As we look ahead to 2026, there is growing speculation about how the Bank of England will manage interest rates during what many economists believe will be a period of calmer inflation, steadier wage growth and a more predictable economic backdrop. After several years...

Check when you can expect a reply from HMRC

HMRC offers a helpful online tool that allows agents and taxpayers to check when they can expect a response to a query or request that they have made. The online tool is updated weekly with the latest information.The full list of taxes the tool can currently be used...

Set up your tax app with HMRC

The free HMRC tax app now provides quick access to tax codes, income history, self-assessment details, National Insurance records and even payment options, all from your phone. HMRC’s free tax app is available to download from the App Store for iOS and from the...