STEP attends European Parliament meeting on vulnerable adults across Member States

STEP members Richard Frimston TEP and Anneke Vrenegoor TEP attended the European Parliament (EP) on 20 April to hear expert presentations on vulnerable adults across Member States (MS) by Dr Ian Curry Summer and Pietro Franzina (see presentations below). The occasion followed continued debate in the EP regarding the difficulty that MS are encountering to… Read More STEP attends European Parliament meeting on vulnerable adults across Member States

May 11, 2016May 11, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

CRS and Charities continued…

HMRC has posted its international automatic exchange guidance on the government website, following another meeting held with STEP and charity advisors: International Exchange of Information Manual. The charity guidance will be posted within a week, the HMRC working group promises. Attendees at the meeting discussed the mechanics of the due diligence process of charities in more… Read More CRS and Charities continued…

April 27, 2016April 27, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

Severe 60 per cent penalty for GAAR schemes

It may not come as a surprise that the new draft UK Finance Bill 2016 has introduced more severe penalties for taxpayers that are found to have fallen out of the General Anti-Abuse Rules (GAAR) remit. A significant change to the rule is the introduction of a new penalty of 60 per cent of the tax… Read More Severe 60 per cent penalty for GAAR schemes

April 15, 2016May 23, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

STEP experts at European Parliamentary Hearing on protection of vulnerable adults

STEP expert speakers attended the European Parliamentary Hearing titled ‘The protection of vulnerable adults: a cross border perspective’ on 14 March in Brussels. The Hearing was focused on the issue of protecting vulnerable adults across Member States (MS). Each MS has its own legal system in place in order to safeguard its senior citizens, however,… Read More STEP experts at European Parliamentary Hearing on protection of vulnerable adults

March 16, 2016April 26, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

Probate application fees: our concerns

As many of you will have seen reported in the STEP UK News Digest and elsewhere, the Ministry of Justice recently issued a consultation paper with its proposals to reform application fees for grants of probate in England and Wales (see news story). While STEP supports the Ministry of Justice’s proposal to modernise the courts… Read More Probate application fees: our concerns

March 8, 2016April 26, 2016 STEPeditor7 Comments

Tax changes your clients may need to know by 6 April

The UK government will be making significant changes to both dividend tax relief and entrepreneurs’ relief effective from 6 April 2016. These changes were outlined by Robert Jamieson TEP at a STEP seminar in London on 22 February. Dividend tax relief The dividend tax credit will be replaced with a new tax-free dividend allowance of… Read More Tax changes your clients may need to know by 6 April

March 7, 2016May 23, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

HMRC’s digital tax plans under fire

STEP attended a meeting held by HMRC yesterday (3 March 2016) to obtain feedback from tax related governing bodies regarding its imminent – and mandatory – proposals to make tax returns completely digital. We were informed that the objective is to modernise the tax system, improve the level of service for the public and reduce… Read More HMRC’s digital tax plans under fire

March 4, 2016May 23, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

UK buy-to-let tax and SDLT changes

Significant tax changes are on the way for anyone buying a second home or a buy-to-let property in England & Wales. The Scottish and Northern Irish Governments have also unanimously backed the changes, which will come into effect from 1 April 2016. Robert Jamieson TEP explained the new changes in a STEP seminar for tax… Read More UK buy-to-let tax and SDLT changes

February 29, 2016May 23, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

The OPG: How solicitor deputies should manage deputyship accounts

The Office of the Public Guardian in England and Wales published a practice note on 15 February 2016 (below) clarifying how solicitor deputies should manage deputyship funds. Whilst the information is widely understood as best practice, it is a helpful reminder regarding the administration and management of deputyship accounts. The law states that all deputies… Read More The OPG: How solicitor deputies should manage deputyship accounts

February 16, 2016May 23, 2016 STEPeditorLeave a comment

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Tag: Emily Deane