38 councils to double council tax on second homes
Up to 12,300 second-home owners face a 100% council tax surcharge as 38 more English councils activate new powers from April. See the full list of affected areas.
Up to 12,300 second-home owners face a 100% council tax surcharge as 38 more English councils activate new powers from April. See the full list of affected areas.
Frozen tax thresholds have dragged 420,000 motorists into paying the luxury vehicle levy, a 42% rise in two years. Discover how family cars are being caught in the tax net.
Up to 400,000 UK homes may be in the wrong council tax band due to flawed 1991 valuations. Check your band now and challenge it to potentially claim thousands in backdated refunds.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves unveils a new council tax surcharge for homes over £2m from April 2028. Nationwide says impact on the wider housing market will be limited. Read the full analysis.
Rachel Reeves's council tax surcharge for homes over £2m faces criticism over 'desktop' valuations. Experts warn of price hikes and unfair penalties. Read the full analysis.
HMRC is launching an aggressive new crackdown on historic tax avoidance from 2026, with new powers, a US-style whistleblower reward scheme, and a surge in criminal investigations. Experts warn of risks.
The Valuation Office clarifies how the new High Value Council Tax Surcharge will work for properties over £2 million from 2028. Learn about the targeted valuations and how it aims to create a fairer system.
Labour's new property surcharge will hit owners of high-value homes from 2028, but exempts over 110 social housing properties worth over £2 million. Get the full details.
Bereaved families could be hit with six-figure bills due to deferred council tax payments on high-value homes. Learn about the new surcharge and its long-term impact.
HMRC is turning to artificial intelligence to tackle a £700m tax gap and improve compliance. The technology will identify risks faster but human caseworkers will make final decisions. Read the latest.
HMRC has issued clear guidance on tax refunds after a cheque was sent to an old address. Learn the steps to correct the error and the helpline number to call.
Labour introduces a 'mansion tax' surcharge for properties over £2m from 2028. Experts analyse the impact on the housing market as October 2025 sales dip 2% year-on-year.
The UK government has revised its inheritance tax plans for farmers after protests. The new rules allow couples to pass on up to £5m. Find out what changed.
Two activists on a prolonged hunger strike for Gaza have been rushed to hospital with severe health deterioration. Read their demands and the government's response.
Future Birmingham council leaders elected in 2026 will lack full autonomy, bound by a government-imposed action plan to ensure financial stability. Discover the binding roadmap for recovery.
Government commissioners will oversee Birmingham City Council after the 2026 elections, restricting new leaders' autonomy with a strict action plan. Discover the roadmap for recovery.
Paula Burnham, owner of Luxe Hair Design in Solihull, stood in front of contractors after roadworks appeared without warning, severely impacting her crucial festive trade. Read the full story.
UK police face criticism for using 'cumulative disruption' powers quashed in May 2025 to manage pro-Palestine protests. Lawyers warn of a legal vacuum and stifled democracy.
Birmingham residents face more missed bin collections after protests at a council depot. The city's long-running industrial dispute continues to cause disruption. Read the latest updates.
Staffordshire County Council deployed extra guards after a Reform UK-led meeting was disrupted by protesters demanding resignations over alleged racist social media posts. Read the latest.
A frozen HMRC trading allowance is eroding the tax-free earnings of UK side hustlers on Vinted, eBay & Airbnb. See how inflation impacts your income.
UK police chiefs announce a decisive crackdown on the chant 'globalise the intifada' following the Bondi Beach attack, stating the context has changed. Read the full statement and community reaction.
An interactive map reveals the West Midlands' most expensive streets, with mansions over £2m. This follows the new 'mansion tax' announced in the Budget. Explore the exclusive postcodes.
UK drivers of electric and plug-in hybrid cars will face a new pay-per-mile tax from April 2028. Find out the rates and how it could affect your motoring costs.
HMRC is issuing revised tax codes midway through the 2025/26 tax year, impacting savers. Check your code now to avoid over or underpaying tax on your savings interest.
Warwick District Council must repay double council tax charged on second homes after admitting it 'acted outside the law'. A procedural mistake forces a costly U-turn.
A public petition urging the government to raise the personal tax allowance to £20,000 has passed 30,000 signatures, piling pressure on Labour. Find out what happens next.
PCs Bethany Cottrell and Natalie Millward showed 'unwavering courage' disarming individuals with weapons during a volatile city centre protest. Discover their heroic story.
State pensioners with a two-digit 'M1' tax code may be owed thousands in emergency tax refunds from HMRC. Learn how to check your code and claim back an average of £3,539.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves confirms frozen tax bands, dragging millions into higher rates. Discover how fiscal drag impacts your income and pension. Sign up for our money-saving newsletter.