Restaurateurs and other hospitality sector businesses should not bank on Brexit delaying the Government’s plans for legislation designed to deal with tipping protocols. In December last year, the Government said it would introduce legislation as soon as possible to stop employers making deductions from tips and gratuities, including any so-called ‘administration’ charges which are...
Exam results have been released and new students know where they will be heading for university. Following the relief of results day, the next big headache for parents is often the search for accommodation, whether for first-timers or returning students. Faced with high rental costs, shortages and sometimes poor-quality student digs in many cities,...
It seems that people in the UK are a charitable bunch. In fact, last year, just under £3 billion was donated to charity in wills, which is expected to rise to £3.4 billion by 2022. This figure means that 3.5% of all of the money left in estates is now comprised of charitable giving....
Sweeping reform of inheritance tax has been recommended to cut the complexity of the so-called ‘death tax’, but experts are warning that individuals will need to review existing planning if the changes go ahead. Headline recommendations to government from the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) include changing the rules surrounding gifts of cash, property...
Though it may be tempting to delay making a will until a later date, it’s essential if you want to ensure your estate is distributed among your beneficiaries without complications. Here, we take a look at the six basic steps involved in making a will and why it’s a good idea to seek professional...
Distributing the estate of a deceased person is a challenge that often results in legal wrangles between family and friends, especially if they feel that they haven’t been included in the will or have been ‘short-changed’ in some way. This can lead to family arguments and even a challenge to the will itself. But...
School and village fetes seem to be an essential part of English summers. There’s nothing nicer than wandering around, munching on a pie and watching two teams drag each other around a field in a Tug o’ War contest. For organisers, though, there’s much to think about. Public liability insurance – an absolute essential...
Rule changes on short term lets could see part-time landlords hit by a new tax bill from next year if they let out their whole property. Homeowners can currently earn up to £7,500 per year tax-free by renting a room to a lodger but the rise of the sharing economy and sites like Airbnb...
Lawyers often talk about ‘divorce day’ in January and report a similar surge when summer holidays are over, and research looking at the timing of divorce petitions bears this out, with peaks after summer and winter holidays. The researchers suggest that while troubled couples may view holidays as a time to stand together for...
Chancellor’s anti-austerity spending spree has few surprises An anti-austerity package of £30 billion of government spending was announced in the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, drawing on improved public finance projections to support a range of new initiatives. Predicted growth for 2019 now stands at 1.6%, up from 1.3% forecast in spring and the Office for...