The STEP Barometer 2026 report looks at the value of expertise in a complex world and reveals the key challenges, trends and priorities facing family wealth and succession advisors and their clients globally. On 31 March 2026, STEP held a webinar, for which more than 1,100 people registered, which I was delighted to chair. We… Read More Reflections from the STEP Barometer webinar
The UK government’s incoming reforms to agricultural property relief (APR) and business property relief (BPR) has stunned generational farming families who now face uncertainty as to how the increasing inheritance tax (IHT) burden will impact the long-term viability of their estates. While these reforms aim to refine the tax system, they have sparked significant questions… Read More APR and BPR policy changes – a cause for concern for family estates
It has been a busy start to 2025 for STEP’s UK Technical Committee, which, has diligently articulated several key technical considerations to HMRC regarding the proposed abolition and replacement of the UK’s non-domiciled tax regime. Having carefully considered the content of the Finance Bill 2024-25, STEP’s representations have emphasised the importance of clear guidelines to… Read More STEP representations to HMRC on non-dom changes
STEP Southern Central and the Institute of Legacy Management (ILM) held a collaboration event at Winchester Cathedral, England, on 24 April 2024. The event, Collaboration in philanthropy – working together in the legacy sector, aimed to: The speakers were: Gill Steel TEP; Matthew Lagden, CEO of the ILM; Thomas Dumont KC, Radcliffe Chambers and Zoë… Read More Collaboration in philanthropy – working together in the legacy sector
The Chancellor’s Spring Budget coincided with a challenging set of global circumstances. The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank just days prior emphasised the need for economic confidence, investment and growth here in the United Kingdom. Coined as the ’back-to-work’ Budget, the Chancellor’s focus was on incentivising the skilled workforce to remain in work longer. Among… Read More UK Spring Budget: key updates for STEP’s members
The UK’s HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has recently published a review of its powers to tackle poor agent behaviour and uphold standards for its agents. This follows an HMRC call for evidence in 2020 about raising standards in the tax advice market, which STEP responded to. STEP also replied to the consultation through the… Read More HMRC releases report on its review of powers to uphold its standard for agents
HM Revenue & Custom’s (HMRC) compliance team has identified the five most common errors made by UK administered trusts which are Financial Institutions (FIs) when fulfilling their obligations under the International Tax Compliance Regulations 2015. These obligations relate to Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) which includes the Common Reporting Standard (CRS) and the Foreign Account… Read More The five most common reporting errors for trusts to avoid
STEP is delighted and relieved by the news that the proposed increase in probate fees in England and Wales has been dropped. News reports emerged early on Saturday morning (12 October 2019), to the relief of practitioners and others in the industry. ‘STEP welcomes the news that the government has decided to scrap the proposed… Read More UK government drops probate fee increase
STEP attended the Global Tax Advisers Platform (GTAP)’s inaugural conference ‘Tax & the Future’ in Turin, Italy last week, alongside many leading European tax advisors. The event was hosted by the foundation of Confédération Fiscale Européenne (CFE) Tax Advisers Europe, which was celebrating its 60th anniversary (press release). The GTAP was set up by the… Read More STEP attends Global Tax Advisers Platform conference in Turin
It was an absolute pleasure to be back in Toronto, Canada for the 21st National Conference, the STEP Canada Board meeting and AGM. I had visited in February, early in my tenure, given the importance of the region to STEP overall and to learn more about how we operate in different parts of the world.… Read More A welcome return to STEP Canada to attend the 21st National Conference
The STEP Blog 