Blogs

What is Inheritance Tax and how can it be reduced?

Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax levied on the value of a deceased person’s estate. Any part of an estate that exceeds the £325,000 tax threshold (or Nil-Rate Band – NRB) is liable to IHT at 40%. Only a small percentage (4% to 5% of estates) are large enough to incur IHT, but as specialist pr....

How to make a Will while social distancing

According to financial advisory organisation deVere Group, Will enquiries surged by 76% in the first few weeks of coronavirus lockdown[1]. Meanwhile, the Office of Public Guardian, which deals with the registration of Lasting Powers of Attorney (LPAs), is also struggling with high demand. As the co....

Coronavirus could see increase in Settlement Agreements

The coronavirus pandemic has brought entire industries to their knees and had a huge impact on the ability of businesses to pay their staff. Despite government assistance via the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, there has been a surge in redundancies, which could in turn lead to a rise in claims f....

COVID-19: Keeping employees safe and healthy

Even under the most ordinary of circumstances, employers must do everything that is “reasonably practicable”[1]to protect their employees’ health, safety and welfare while they are at work. In these unprecedented times, however, employers will have to take extra steps to ensure, as far as pos....

Get ready for 2020 Good Work Plan Legislation

Anxious to demonstrate that they are not using Brexit as an opportunity to roll back on workers' rights, the Government plans to introduce a raft of new employment laws as part of: 'the largest upgrade in a generation to workplace rights'. The legislation will implement the proposals set out in the....

Inheritance Tax – complex, old-fashioned and unfit for purpose?

In autumn 2018, the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) published a report following a request from then Chancellor Philip Hammond for a comprehensive review of the IHT system. One of two reports, the first dealt with the administrative side of IHT, while their second report, presented to Parliament....

Dismissal and redundancies during the COVID-19 outbreak

During these difficult times, many businesses are struggling financially, and some are unable to continue paying their employees’ salaries. To avoid mass job losses, the government has introduced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), also known as ‘furlough leave’, through which employ....

‘Furlough’ leave – what employers should know

During these difficult times, many businesses are struggling financially. As the crisis has continued, some are no longer in a position to pay their staff. To avoid mass job losses, the government has introduced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). Open to all UK businesses (save for public....

Buying or selling a house during the COVID-19 outbreak

According to government data, nearly 104,000 property transactions completed in the UK in February 2020. For the thousands of people whose properties are due to complete in March, however, the government’s restrictions on movement and social contact to curb the spread of coronavirus have rendered....

Spike in couples experiencing marital difficulties

We are living in exceptional times; times that are forcing us to stay at home almost around the clock to curb the spread of coronavirus and save lives. During this crisis, the heightened stress and anxiety that many people are feeling, as well as the effects of prolonged self-isolation, have led ce....

COVID-19: Commercial landlords and tenants

We recently produced a blog on the disputes that could potentially arise between landlords and tenants unable to pay their rent during the coronavirus outbreak. But what of commercial tenants? With businesses across the UK suffering a heavy blow to their finances, particularly those in the leisure,....

COVID-19 evictions ban promise “watered down” in Coronvirus Act

On 18 March, housing secretary Robert Jenrick announced emergency legislation to protect renters experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. With businesses across the UK forced to close or experiencing plummeting demand, employees are feeling the hit to their finan....