The UK government’s plan to increase probate fees has been criticised by the opposition in the House of Lords. Labour’s Justice Spokesperson, Lord Beecham, has tabled the following motion of regret in relation to The Non-Contentious Probate (Fees) Order 2018: ‘Lord Beecham to move that this House regrets that the draft Non-Contentious Probate (Fees) Order 2018… Read More UK Labour party tables motion against probate fees rise
The House of Lords Economic Affairs Committee has found that HMRC is failing to guarantee fairness for taxpayers by failing to differentiate between users of sophisticated tax avoidance schemes and ordinary citizens who break the law through uninformed or naive actions. In its report, The Powers of HMRC: Treating Taxpayers Fairly (PDF), the committee found… Read More House of Lords report criticises HMRC’s treatment of taxpayers
The UK Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) has published its first report of its review into inheritance tax (IHT). The report, in which STEP is widely quoted, finds that the process for completing IHT forms is too complex and old fashioned, and that too many people are having to fill them in unnecessarily. The OTS… Read More OTS report supports STEP’s calls for simplification
It’s now three months since the launch of The Informed Trustee, STEP’s online course for charity trustees in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. With Trustees’ Week being marked across the UK, it seems like a good moment to reflect on the story so far. The Informed Trustee course was created as a practical… Read More The Informed Trustee: three months on
On 7 November, the UK government launched its review into the taxation of trusts, almost a year after announcing it in the 2017 Autumn Budget. The consultation, which will run until 30 January 2019, focuses on the principles of transparency, fairness and neutrality, and simplicity. The government’s stated aim is to ensure that the many… Read More UK trust taxation under review
This Blog was updated on 26/11/2018 – for latest developments, please see the update at the end of the article below. The government has announced amendments to the procedure for applying for probate in England and Wales, with less than a month’s notice. The Statutory Instrument (The Non-Contentious Probate (Amendment) Rules 2018) will come into… Read More Government changes E&W probate procedure without consultation
Update 13 Nov: Please see the Statutory Instrument timeframe below. Original blog: The UK government has re-introduced proposals to fund the courts service via charging higher probate fees. The proposals emerged late yesterday (5 Nov 18), a week after the budget. While the headline charges are less extortionate than were proposed last year, for an estate… Read More The death tax returns
Update: STEP News 1 Nov: UK revises anti-organised crime strategy to target professional ‘facilitators’ Original blog: Ben Wallace MP, UK Minister of State for Security at the Home Office, has called for more to be done to make lawyers and accountants who facilitate money laundering recognise their responsibilities. As part of a House of Commons… Read More The new gatekeepers of the financial system
UK Chancellor Philip Hammond delivered the final budget before the UK leaves the EU yesterday. Here are some of the key measures that may affect STEP members. Individuals Income tax: the personal allowance threshold, the rate at which people start paying income tax at 20 per cent, is to rise from GBP11,850 to GBP12,500 in… Read More How will the UK budget affect STEP members?
STEP marked World Mental Health Day on 10 October with The Capacity Conversation: Best Practice, an event hosted by the Employer Partnership team and the Mental Capacity Special Interest Group in London. Simon Hardy TEP of Kingsley Napley explained that clients need to plan for loss of capacity, but many have not done so. While… Read More Addressing mental health in the workplace
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