Bed-and-ISA looks like a clever loophole — sell a holding, repurchase it inside your ISA, lock in tax-free growth. But the 30-day rule, frozen £3,000 CGT allowance and reduced dividend allowance change the maths. Here's what actually works in 2025/26.
The UK personal allowance has been frozen at £12,570 since April 2021 and stays frozen until April 2028. Here's how fiscal drag quietly takes a four-figure bite out of your take-home pay.
Missing the 31 January Self Assessment deadline triggers an instant £100 penalty even if you owe no tax — then £10/day from day 90, plus 5% surcharges at 6 and 12 months. Late payment adds 7.75% interest in 2026. Full penalty schedule.
You can't claim both. Tax-Free Childcare tops up your childcare account by 25% (up to £2,000 per child per year); the Universal Credit childcare element repays 85% of costs up to £1,031 per month for one child. Which suits which family in 2025/26?
Your effective tax rate is what you actually pay on average; your marginal rate is what the next £1 costs. Both matter — but for different decisions. Worked examples at £30k, £55k, £105k and £130k.
The 2025/26 UK tax year ends 5 April 2026. Use-it-or-lose-it allowances: £20k ISA, £4k LISA, £60k pension, £3k CGT, £3k IHT gifts, Marriage Allowance backdate. Step-by-step checklist.
Voluntary National Insurance Class 2 costs £190 per year and Class 3 costs £957 per year — but they buy the same extra State Pension entitlement. Worked examples on the payback period and who qualifies for the cheaper Class 2 route in 2026/27.
The 2025/26 personal allowance is £12,570 — but it tapers off above £100,000, varies if you claim Marriage Allowance, and behaves oddly with side income. Here's how it works.
Pension contributions, salary sacrifice, Marriage Allowance, ISAs and Gift Aid — the five most useful, fully legal ways to pay less UK income tax in the 2025/26 tax year, with worked examples.
From April 2024, HICBC starts at £60,000 (was £50,000) and fully claws back at £80,000. Here's how it works, who pays, who can opt out, and how the new household-income consultation affects you.
Marriage Allowance gives married couples a £252-a-year UK tax saving — and you can backdate a fresh claim by four years. Who qualifies, how to apply in 5 minutes, and the common mistakes to avoid.
Scottish income tax has 6 bands at 19%/20%/21%/42%/45%/48% — England's 3 bands run 20%/40%/45%. Worked comparison at £25k, £35k, £50k, £75k and £125k. Plus the Personal Allowance, LBTT and Plan 4 differences.
