The Insolvency Service has urged individuals saving for retirement to protect their pension pots from criminals and ‘negligent trustees'. Research carried out by the Service found that criminals use a range of tactics to convince savers to part with their funds, including persuading individuals to access their pension and invest in unregulated schemes. Pension scam victims lo ...
HMRC’s Voice ID database
Since 2017, HMRC has captured millions of callers’ voice data on its Voice ID system by encouraging the caller to say a key phrase instead of the conventional password to gain access to their accounts. However, non-profit organisation Big Brother Watch warns that people have been ‘railroaded into a mass ID scheme by the back door’ and has reported HMRC to the Information Commi ...
Probate fees to rise to £6,000
New probate fees, due to come into force from April 2019, will see a banded system of probate fees for all estates valued over £50,000. Currently a flat fee of £155 is payable upon a probate application made by an accountant (as an authorised provider of probate services) or £215 for an application made by an individual. These fees were set in 2014 and raise £45m per year, whi ...
Businesses urged to prepare for post-Brexit Customs Declarations
HMRC is urging VAT-registered UK businesses which trade exclusively with the EU to be prepared for a no deal Brexit. In a letter sent to 145,000 affected businesses, HMRC explains changes to Customs, Excise and VAT procedures in the ‘unlikely event’ that the UK leaves the EU without a Brexit deal. HMRC’s letter advises businesses to take three actions ahead of ‘Brexit Day’ on ...