April 2023

We hope you will contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss any matters in more detail. 

Capital allowances reformed in 'Budget for growth'

A £27 billion transformation of capital allowances from April was announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt as he delivered a 'Budget for growth'.

Reforms to childcare, which will see free care expanded for children over the age of nine months, were key to Mr Hunt's plans to remove the barriers to work. A range of other measures were also announced to encourage parents, the disabled and the over-50s back into the workplace.

The Chancellor also made changes to the pension system to provide incentives for doctors and other highly-skilled workers to remain in the labour market.

As high energy costs continue to affect the UK, the Chancellor extended the Energy Support Guarantee (ESG) at £2,500 for another three months, while fuel duty was frozen once more.

HMRC issues guidance on abolition of pensions lifetime allowance

HMRC recently issued preliminary guidance in regard to the abolition of the pensions lifetime allowance.

As a result of the abolition of the lifetime allowance, the maximum amount most members can take as a pension commencement lump sum will be frozen at £268,275, which is 25% of the current standard lifetime allowance of £1,073,100. However, members with a protected right to a higher pension commencement lump sum on 5 April 2023 will continue to be able to access this right.

Bank of England raises UK interest rates

Interest rates have been increased to 4.25% from 4% by the Bank of England (BoE) as it tries to slow rising prices.

The BoE's decision to increase rates for the 11th time in a row comes after figures showed that the cost of living has risen by more than expected. Data published recently by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that inflation jumped to 10.4% in the year to February, despite predictions it would fall.

HMRC late payment interest rate

HMRC has revised interest rates with late payment bills charged 6.75% from 13 April, the highest level since January 2008.

The late payment and repayment interest rates follow the rise in the Bank of England base rate to 4.25% on 23 March and are applied to the main taxes and duties that HMRC currently charges and pays interest. The rates will rise to:

• late payment interest rate - 6.75% from 13 April 2023
• repayment interest rate - 3.25% from 13 April 2023

This means that the late payment interest rate will increase by 0.25% to 6.75% from 13 April. This is the highest rate since the start of the financial crisis in November 2008. The previous increase to the rate was to 6.5% on 21 February.

Late payment interest is payable on late tax bills covering income tax, National Insurance contributions, capital gain tax, stamp duty land tax, stamp duty and stamp duty reserve tax. The corporation tax pay and file rate also increases to 6.75%.

Taxpayers given more time for voluntary national insurance contributions

The government has extended the voluntary national insurance deadline to give taxpayers more time to fill gaps in their contributions and boost their state pensions.

The extension comes after members of the public voiced concerns over the previous deadline of 5 April 2023.

As part of transitional arrangements to the new state pension, taxpayers have been able to make voluntary contributions to any incomplete years in their national insurance record between April 2006 and April 2016. After an increase in customer contact, the government has extended the deadline to 31 July 2023 to ensure people have time to make their contributions.

The extension of the deadline was announced via a written Ministerial Statement, and HMRC is urging taxpayers to ensure they do not miss out.

Individuals with gaps in their national insurance record from April 2006 onwards now have more time to decide whether to fill the gaps to boost their new state pension. Any payments made will be at the lower 2022-2023 tax year rates.

Two freeports confirmed for Wales

Two freeports have been confirmed for Wales by the UK and Welsh governments.

Celtic Freeport, covering Milford Haven and Port Talbot, and Anglesey Freeport will each be backed by £26 million in seed funding by the UK government.

The sites were chosen to exploit opportunities from renewable energies and the government said they would 'make a significant contribution to achieving the UK's net zero ambitions'. They will aim to attract £5 billion in private and public investment and create over 20,000 high-skilled jobs by 2030.

Freeports benefit from a range of subsidies, including tax reliefs, customs advantages, reduced business rates, planning, regeneration and trade and investment support.

Tax incentives include enhanced capital allowances, relief from stamp duty land tax and reduced employer national insurance contributions (NICs) for new employees.

Small businesses at risk as energy costs rise

The end of the Energy Bill Relief Scheme (EBRS) on 1 April could threaten the future of hundreds of thousands of small firms, according to research by the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB).

The Energy Bill Discount Scheme (EBDS) offers a far lower level of support for small businesses.

Although market prices have stabilised for those fixing their contracts now or those who are on variable tariffs, businesses that fixed last year will see huge increases as they are locked into a high price before the government's relief.

A business paying £24,528 per year for energy under the old government support scheme will now pay £82,539 under the new scheme.

The FSB is calling for small firms to be allowed to renegotiate their energy contracts that were fixed last year. It is also calling for additional support for businesses to become more energy efficient.