New Bill to crack down on online fraud
New legislation aimed at cracking down on rip-offs, protecting consumer cash online and boosting competition in digital markets has been published.
The new far-reaching Bill will have the following headline benefits:
New powers aimed at boosting competition in digital markets currently
Paying tax by credit or debit card
HMRC has not accepted personal credit card payments since January 2018 when credit card surcharges on personal credit cards were banned.
However, HMRC continues to accept payments by corporate credit cards, corporate debit cards and personal debit cards. The use of corporate credit and debit cards
Scottish government announces new childcare initiatives
Scotland’s new First Minister Humza Yousaf has announced a new £15 million investment to help tackle child poverty. This investment will see thousands more low-income families benefit from free school age childcare.
Existing services for eligible families in areas of Dundee, Clackmannanshire,
Bank of England and HMRC increase interest rates
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 22 March 2023 and voted 7-2 in favour of raising interest rates by 25 basis points to 4.25% in a move to tackle continued, rising inflation. This is the eleventh time the MPC has increased interest rates with rates now the highest they
Spring Finance Bill published
The government published the Spring Finance Bill 2023 on 23 March 2023. The Bill is officially known as the Finance (No 2) Bill, because it is the second Finance Bill of the 2022-23 Parliamentary session. The Bill contains the legislation for many of the tax measures announced in the recent Spring
Scottish Parliament approves 3% rent cap
The Scottish Parliament has approved a new 3% rent cap for most private renters that will come into effect from 1 April 2023 for an initial six-month period with the option to extend for another six-month period if required.
These changes follow a temporarily freeze on rent increases for private
Spring Budget 2023 – Energy Price Guarantee
The Chancellor had previously announced that the energy price guarantee cap, which will see the average household have their energy bills capped at £2,500 a year, would remain in place until the 31 March 2023. It was announced as part of the Spring Budget measures that this cap will now be extended
Scottish Winter Payments Support
The Scottish Winter Heating Payment is a new Scottish Government benefit that replaces the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) Cold Weather Payment. It can be claimed by eligible claimants on low incomes living in Scotland from 1 November 2022. The Cold Weather Payment is paid to eligible
Bereavement Support Payment
The amount of Bereavement Support Payment you can claim will depend on your relationship to the person who died and when you make your claim.
Your payments will be paid into your bank, building society or credit union account.
If you were married or in a registered civil partnership with the
The digital pound
A new consultation has been published jointly by HM Treasury and the Bank of England to consider the launch of a potential digital pound, or central bank digital currency (CBDC). The possible new digital pound has also been referred to as ‘digital sterling’ and ‘Britcoin’.
The digital pound would