uk-finance

Pay-Per-Mile Car Tax (eVED) for Electric Vehicles: What the Consultation Response Confirms

Government confirms pay-per-mile tax for electric cars from April 2028: 3p a mile for EVs, 1.5p for plug-in hybrids, no GPS tracking, on top of existing road tax.

14 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

HMRC Timely Payments Consultation: Monthly Tax Bills for the Self-Employed Explained

HMRC's timely payments consultation could see 2.1 million Self Assessment taxpayers with PAYE income move to monthly tax collection from April 2029. Consultation closes 4 August 2026.

14 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

DWP Pension Reform Timetable: What the New Value for Money Framework Means for Savers

DWP confirms its timetable for the pension value for money framework: red, amber, and green ratings from 2028 for large schemes, all workplace pensions by 2029, under the Pension Schemes Act 2026.

14 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Civil Service Pension Delays: Auditors Deployed as Capita Still Fails to Fix Service

Independent auditors and a Capita-funded 'Remedial Adviser' are being deployed after months of Civil Service pension processing failures. 6,700 retirees still await quotations and 7,603 bereaved families are owed benefits. Your rights, the complaints process, and what's changing.

13 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

OBR Warns UK Debt Could Hit 300% of GDP: What It Means for You

The OBR's 50-year outlook warns UK debt could triple without action. These are scenarios, not predictions, but they point clearly toward sustained tax pressure and questions over the pension triple lock. Here's what's actually in the report.

12 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

National Housing Bank Backs Salford, Bromley, Ludlow Homes

The National Housing Bank has agreed £35 million in loans across Salford, Bromley and Ludlow, unlocking around 2,500 new homes as part of its plan to invest up to £16 billion in housing and regeneration finance over the next decade.

10 Jul 2026 · 8 min read

Mortgage Fraud UK: What It Is, Real Figures, and How to Report It

The FCA opened just 1 mortgage fraud investigation in 2025, down from 18 total since 2018, even as UK Finance reports £1.17bn lost to fraud and Cifas finds 1 in 6 adults know someone who misled a lender.

7 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

5 Million UK Homeowners Face Higher Mortgage Costs: What the Bank of England Report Means Across the UK

The Bank of England now expects over 5 million UK homeowners to face higher mortgage costs by 2028, up from 3.9 million forecast in December, with regional variation across the UK.

7 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

The Mills Review: What the FCA's AI Report Means for UK Consumers and Financial Firms

The FCA's Mills Review found 20% of UK adults (11 million people) are likely to use agentic AI in personal finance, and will decide within 3-6 months whether AI chatbots like ChatGPT should require regulatory authorisation.

7 Jul 2026 · 6 min read

Basic Bank Accounts UK: FCA Finds a Third of Experiences Poor, Nine Banks Ordered to Improve

The FCA found only 28% of basic bank account interactions were rated good or very good in a 298-case mystery shop, with 34% poor or very poor. Nine banks have agreed improvement plans, and the Breaking the Cycle pilot is expanding to five more lenders.

7 Jul 2026 · 9 min read

Landlord Professionalisation: Why 43% of UK Buy-to-Let Purchases Are Now Through Limited Companies

New lender data shows incorporated buy-to-let ownership has risen from under 8% of purchases in 2018 to 43% in 2025, with portfolio sizes growing alongside it.

7 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Cheapest Energy Supplier UK: Every Active Provider and How Prices Compare (2026)

There is no single cheapest UK energy supplier: it depends on tariff type, payment method and meter. Here is every active provider and the factors that decide your actual price.

5 Jul 2026 · 7 min read

How Much Does It Cost to Contest Probate in the UK?

Contesting probate starts with a low-cost caveat but carries real financial risk under the courts' costs rules. Here is what it costs to start, and what losing can cost you.

5 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Probate Valuation Costs: Property, Contents and Shares (2026)

Probate requires an estate to be valued for inheritance tax purposes before you can apply. Here is what must be valued, the official disbursement fees involved, and HMRC's role.

5 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Probate Solicitor Fees UK: Fixed Fee vs Hourly vs Percentage (2026)

Solicitors use three main fee structures for probate: fixed fee, hourly rate, and percentage of estate value. SRA transparency rules require firms to publish this pricing.

5 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

DIY Probate: How to Get Probate Without a Solicitor and What It Costs

Applying for probate yourself limits your costs to the HMCTS fee and copy charges. This guide covers the PA1P and PA1A forms, the online route, timescales, and when DIY is not appropriate.

5 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

How Much Does Probate Cost in the UK? Every Fee Explained (2026)

The HMCTS probate application fee is £300 for estates over £5,000, free below that. It rises to £526 from 13 July 2026. Here is every component cost, sourced.

5 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

How to Invest in the Nasdaq (UK Guide)

Most Nasdaq funds track the Nasdaq-100, not the full exchange. Here is how UK investors access it through a UCITS ETF, and the currency risk and tax treatment involved.

4 Jul 2026 · 7 min read

How to Invest in the FTSE 100 (UK Guide)

The FTSE 100 tracks the largest London-listed companies. Here is how UK investors access it through an ETF or index fund, and the tax treatment inside an ISA, SIPP, or general account.

4 Jul 2026 · 7 min read

How to Invest in the S&P 500 (UK Guide)

UK investors cannot buy the S&P 500 directly. Here is how to access it through an ETF or index fund, and the tax treatment inside an ISA, SIPP, or general account.

4 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

FCA Proposes New Due Diligence Standards for SIPPs

The FCA has proposed new due diligence and asset-protection standards for SIPP providers, covering a market worth around 567 billion pounds across 5.3 million consumers.

2 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Council Tax Debt in England Hits £7.4 Billion, Up 11% in a Year

Outstanding council tax debt in England has reached £7.4 billion, up 11.3% on the year before, as debt charities call for collection rules to change.

2 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Income Support and JSA Have Ended: Universal Credit Migration Explained

DWP has confirmed the end of income-related ESA and Housing Benefit as legacy benefit claimants complete the move to Universal Credit.

2 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

FSCS Mortgage Advice Compensation Triples to £1.6m in a Year

FSCS compensation for bad mortgage advice rose from £500,000 to £1.6 million in a year, driven mainly by claims against a firm that defaulted in 2011.

2 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

Pension Consolidation Platforms UK: PensionBee, Penfold, Moneybox and SIPP Options Compared

A factual comparison of UK pension consolidation platforms, covering fees, structure, and whether each handles pension tracing and transfer for you.

2 Jul 2026 · 5 min read

Before You Consolidate an Old Pension: Check for Legacy Charges First

The FCA found some legacy pension products deliver poorer value than newer ones. How to check your old pension before deciding whether to consolidate.

2 Jul 2026 · 9 min read

Before You Donate: How to Check a Charity Is Genuine and Claim Gift Aid

How to check a charity is genuine before donating in the UK, and how Gift Aid boosts every donation by 25p per pound, with extra relief for higher rate taxpayers.

2 Jul 2026 · 4 min read

5.6 Million People Check Pay in the HMRC App: Usage Data in Full

HMRC app usage data shows 5.6 million users this tax year, checking pay before payday an average of 18 times, alongside sharp growth in State Pension forecast and Child Benefit checks.

2 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

APP Fraud in the UK: What UK Finance's 2026 Report Shows

UK Finance recorded £576.4m in APP fraud losses for 2025, up 19%, while a separate reimbursement-impact review estimated losses have fallen £73m a year. Both can be true at once — here's why.

2 Jul 2026 · 3 min read

Council Tax Arrears in England: Why the Debt Keeps Growing

Council tax arrears in England have reached roughly £7.4bn, with 4.4 million people behind on payments across Britain. How the current collection system escalates a missed payment, and what reform is on the table.

2 Jul 2026 · 3 min read