You can pay your HMRC tax bill by bank transfer, BACS, CHAPS, debit card online, or cheque. Direct Debit and credit cards are no longer accepted for most tax payments. Here's how each method works and how to get the payment reference right.
From breaching the £20,000 limit to paying into a Cash ISA when you should be in a Stocks & Shares ISA, these common mistakes can cost savers thousands of pounds. Here's how to avoid them.
Statutory Maternity Pay (SMP) is paid for up to 39 weeks: the first 6 weeks at 90% of average weekly earnings, then 33 weeks at £194.32/week (2026/27) or 90% of earnings if lower. You qualify if you've worked for your employer for 26 weeks by the 15th week before your due date.
Getting married or entering a civil partnership unlocks several UK tax advantages: Marriage Allowance (up to £252/year), CGT spousal transfers, IHT spouse exemption (unlimited), and pension nominations. Here's what changes when you marry and how to claim every benefit.
UK auto-enrolment requires 8% total pension contributions (5% you, 3% employer) on qualifying earnings £6,240-£50,270. Here's how it works, why you shouldn't opt out, and how to boost above the minimum
Are you legally entitled to bank holiday pay? The honest answer is: it depends on your contract. Full guide to your rights in 2026, part-time pro-rata rules, and worked examples at £12.71/hr and £40,000/yr.
Bonuses are taxed as employment income at your marginal rate — not a flat rate, not an 'emergency code'. Here's how PAYE handles them, how salary sacrifice changes the maths, and when timing your bonus makes sense.
CGT on residential property is 18% or 24% in 2026/27. You must report and pay within 60 days of completion. Full guide to rates, Principal Private Residence relief, the letting relief rules, and a worked calculation.
Capital Gains Tax planning strategies for 2026/27 — bed-and-ISA, bed-and-SIPP, loss harvesting, spousal transfers and more. The £3,000 AEA cannot be carried forward: losing it costs you up to £720 in avoidable tax.
Child Benefit pays £27.05/week for your first child and £17.90/week for each additional child in 2026/27. Full guide to rates, the High Income Child Benefit Charge, and how salary sacrifice can protect your entitlement.
Two proven methods for paying off debt in the UK in 2026. Avalanche saves the most interest; Snowball delivers quick psychological wins. With typical UK APRs, here is which to choose and why.
What triggers an HMRC compliance check? How HMRC's Connect system works, types of enquiry, your rights and obligations, penalty structure, and why voluntary disclosure always produces better outcomes than being discovered.
