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HMRC missed out on £46.8bn in tax last year. Small businesses and Corporation Tax make up the biggest share of the shortfall.
The tax gap for the 2023-24 tax year has been published and is estimated to be 5.3% of total theoretical tax liabilities.
The tax gap is basically the difference between the amount of tax that should have been paid to HMRC and the amount of tax collected by the Exchequer. The gap includes tax that has been avoided in the UK’s black economy, by criminal activities, through tax avoidance and evasion. However, it also includes simple errors made by taxpayers in calculating the tax they owe as well as outstanding tax due from businesses that have become insolvent.
In monetary terms, the tax gap is equivalent to lost tax of £46.8 billion. This means that HMRC collected £829.2 billion or 94.7% of all tax due.
The government has announced plans to raise a further £7.5 billion through its measures to close the tax gap.
Some of the key findings from this year’s calculations show:
As announced at Spending Review 2025, £1.7 billion will be provided to HMRC over four years to fund an additional 5,500 compliance and 2,400 debt management staff in order to try and ensure that more of the tax due is paid, to fund public services.
The government has announced the reinstatement of Winter Fuel Payments for pensioners in England and Wales for winter 2025–26, reversing the previous year's cuts. Around nine million pensioners are expected to benefit from this decision, with payments of £200 per household or £300 for households where someone is aged 80 or over.
Eligibility will be based on age and income. Anyone who has reached State Pension age by the qualifying week of 15 to 21 September 2025 and earns £35,000 or less will receive the payment automatically. Pensioners with higher incomes will still receive the payment but may have it recovered through the PAYE or Self-Assessment systems. Alternatively, they can opt out of receiving the support altogether.
The move is part of a broader attempt to provide targeted help to those most in need while managing public finances responsibly. The scheme is expected to cost around £1.25 billion, but by introducing means-testing for higher earners, the government aims to save approximately £450 million compared to the previously universal scheme.
The decision follows public concern about last year’s removal of the payment, which had a significant impact on many lower-income pensioners. It has been welcomed by pensioners' groups and campaigners who argued that older people should not be left without support during the winter months.
Full details of how to apply or opt out, along with confirmation of eligibility, will be published later in the summer, with funding arrangements to be finalised in the Autumn Budget.
The government’s 2025 Spending Review outlines a major funding boost for healthcare, defence, housing, and infrastructure to support long-term recovery and growth.
The 2025 Spending Review was published on 11 June 2025 and outlines the government's plans to support the country’s recovery by investing in security, health, and the economy. It sets budgets for government departments up to 2028–29 for everyday spending, and up to 2029–30 for long-term projects like infrastructure. Overall, departmental budgets will grow by 2.3% during this period. The review also sets funding levels for the devolved governments in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
This includes a £29 billion investment to revitalise the NHS. The funding aims to modernise the health service, address backlogs, and future-proof care delivery. Specifically, up to £10 billion will be used towards digital transformation and technology. This will include measures to expand GP training to deliver millions more appointments, enhance mental health services in schools.
Beyond healthcare, the Spending Review also set out substantial investments in defence, infrastructure, housing and energy security. Defence will receive an £11 billion real-terms uplift, including £15 billion for a nuclear warhead programme and £6 billion for munitions manufacturing. Border security and asylum processing are also set for major upgrades.
The government will also channel billions into local transport, rail links, and regional regeneration projects, while launching the largest social and affordable housing programme in a generation with £39 billion over ten years. The devolved administrations will receive their largest real-terms settlements since devolution began in 1998 to help ensure that locally tailored priorities are funded robustly.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered her first Spending Review to Parliament last week, setting out the government’s financial priorities for the next three years. Her approach signals a shift away from austerity towards a strategy of state-backed investment, aimed at boosting growth and productivity while maintaining fiscal credibility.
The review promises a substantial increase in capital spending, with key allocations for transport infrastructure, energy security, housing, and green technology. The government pledged a multi-year uplift in NHS and defence funding, while committing to invest heavily in rail, roads, and nuclear energy projects.
Day-to-day departmental budgets are set to grow modestly in real terms, but the largest gains will be in capital allocations. The spending framework also relies on projected efficiency savings of £14 billion, which will be used to fund some of the more ambitious commitments.
For UK businesses, the implications vary by sector. Construction and engineering firms can expect opportunities from increased infrastructure spending, particularly those aligned with green objectives and transport. Firms in digital healthcare, AI, and clean energy technologies may also see a benefit from targeted support and public procurement opportunities.
Technology businesses are likely to see some growth stimulus through investment in digital public services and AI infrastructure. Similarly, the life sciences and carbon capture sectors are expected to benefit from targeted research and development initiatives.
However, the business community remains cautious. The Spending Review comes at a time when government debt is at historically high levels, and market confidence is sensitive to fiscal overreach. Some forecasters have warned of a potential shortfall of up to £20 billion in the government’s medium-term plans, which could necessitate either tax increases or tighter departmental controls later this year.
There is also concern over the government’s reliance on efficiency savings to meet its commitments. While welcomed in principle, businesses and economists alike remain sceptical about how quickly those savings can be delivered in practice.
In summary, the Spending Review presents a growth-focused and investment-driven agenda. For business, it brings opportunities, particularly in sectors aligned with the government’s infrastructure, green and digital priorities. However, there are risks associated with delivering on these promises if forecasts fall short or efficiency measures do not materialise as planned.
For high net worth individuals (HNWIs), tax planning is not simply a compliance activity, it is a strategic tool to preserve and grow wealth. With rising scrutiny from HMRC, frozen allowances, and increasingly complex legislation, the value of well-structured planning has never been higher.
HNWIs typically have multiple sources of income: from employment, dividends, property, pensions, or overseas investments. This complexity brings opportunities, but also risk. Without active tax planning, much of that income can be lost to inefficient structuring or missed reliefs.
Using allowances such as the personal allowance, dividend allowance, and savings allowance is key. Where income exceeds £100,000, tapering of allowances becomes relevant. Income splitting between spouses and the use of family investment companies or trusts can help manage liabilities.
The capital gains tax (CGT) annual exemption is now only £3,000 (2025–26). Disposals must be timed carefully, with use of spousal exemptions or crystallising gains across tax years considered.
HNWIs are most exposed to inheritance tax (IHT), which charges 40% on estates above £325,000 (plus any residence nil-rate band). Making lifetime gifts, using trusts, and taking advantage of the exemption for gifts from surplus income can significantly reduce exposure.
Global families must manage UK tax residency and domicile status carefully. The remittance basis may apply to foreign income, but this often requires payment of the remittance basis charge. Changes to domicile treatment post-April 2025 make planning in this area even more important.
Pensions, ISAs, and offshore bonds can provide valuable tax sheltering. For HNWIs, using the annual and lifetime pension allowances efficiently, especially while they remain available, is a core planning task.
In summary, proactive tax planning is about more than saving money. It gives HNWIs confidence, control, and the ability to plan for the future. With HMRC increasing its focus on high earners, reviewing tax affairs annually is no longer optional, it makes good financial sense.
Following a Bank Rate cut to 4.25%, HMRC late payment and repayment interest rates will drop from 19 and 28 May 2025. Check which taxes this affects.
The Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) met on 8 May and, in a narrow 5–4 vote, decided to reduce the interest rate by 25 basis points, bringing it down to 4.25%. Of the four dissenting members, two supported a larger cut to 4%, while the other two preferred to keep the rate at 4.5%. This marks the fourth interest rate reduction since August 2024.
This means that the late payment interest rate applied to the main taxes and duties on which HMRC charges interest will decrease from 8.5% to 8.25%. This change takes effect on 19 May 2025 for quarterly instalment payments, and on 28 May 2025 for non-quarterly instalment payments.
Additionally, the repayment interest rate HMRC pays on main taxes and duties will also drop by 0.25%, from 3.5% to 3.25%, from 28 May 2025. The repayment rate is calculated as the Bank Rate minus 1%, subject to a minimum of 0.5%.
On 8 May 2025, the UK government announced a landmark trade agreement with the United States, aimed at reducing tariffs and bolstering key British industries. This deal is projected to save thousands of jobs, particularly in the automotive and steel sectors, and marks a significant step in strengthening UK-US trade relations.
Key Achievements of the UK-US Trade Deal:
This trade agreement represents a significant advancement in UK-US economic relations, providing immediate benefits to key industries and laying the groundwork for future cooperation.
From April 2025, more low-income workers on Universal Credit can join Help to Save. Save up to £50/month and get a 50% bonus – up to £1,200 over 4 years. A simple way to build your savings.
The eligibility rules for the Help to Save scheme were extended on 6 April 2025. This means that the scheme is now open to more than 550,000 across the UK. The scheme is now available to anyone working and receiving Universal Credit.
The Help to Save scheme is intended to help those on low incomes to boost their savings. Eligible users of the scheme can save between £1 and £50 every calendar month and receive a 50% government bonus. The 50% bonus is payable at the end of the second and fourth years and is based on how much account holders have saved. The bonus is paid directly into the account holder’s chosen bank account. This means that anyone working and receiving Universal Credit can receive a maximum bonus of up to £1,200 on savings of £2,400 for 4 years from the date the account is opened.
The Help to Save scheme was also extended by a further 2 years, until April 2027. The last date an account can be opened under the current scheme will be 5 April 2027.
The eligibility criteria that applied before 6 April 2025 meant that savers had to be in receipt of Tax Credits or Universal Credit and be earning at least 16 hours a week at National Living Wage. These criteria have now been fully removed from the scheme.
Commenting on the changes, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:
'Thousands of customers have already benefitted from Help to Save and many more are now eligible to get a great return of 50% on top of their savings, no matter how little you can save each month. Go online or via the HMRC app to find out more and apply today.'
Skip the phone queues. Your Personal Tax Account lets you manage everything from tax codes to refunds online. Quick, secure, and all in one place. If you haven’t signed up yet, now’s the time.
Your Personal Tax Account (PTA) is a simple and secure way to manage your tax affairs online. If you want to complete tasks like checking your tax code, claiming a refund, or updating your details, this can all be done in one place. This offers a practical alternative to contacting HMRC by phone or post, helping you stay on top of your finances with minimal hassle.
While every UK taxpayer is assigned a PTA, individuals must register via the Government Gateway to begin using the service. Identity verification may be required during the setup process.
Currently, the following services are accessible through your PTA:
The PTA plays an important role in HMRC’s ongoing digital transformation, aimed at improving efficiency and accessibility across the UK tax system.
Tax thresholds frozen till 2028? That’s fiscal drag in action – more tax paid without rate rises. It’s a stealthy revenue boost for HM Treasury, projected to bring in £38bn a year by 2029. Inflation and pay rises make it worse.
The freezing of tax thresholds often results in a phenomenon known as fiscal drag. When tax thresholds remain static, taxpayers find themselves paying more tax as their earnings increase, without receiving a corresponding rise in tax allowances. Consequently, more individuals are "dragged" into higher tax brackets or start paying tax for the first time, essentially functioning as a hidden or stealth tax. In the UK, several tax thresholds—particularly for Income Tax—have been frozen since April 2022 and are set to remain unchanged until April 2028.
While fiscal drag is not an unusual occurrence, its impact is influenced by three critical factors: the government's setting of thresholds and allowances, inflation, and wage growth. How these thresholds are determined is especially significant during periods of high inflation.
Adjusting tax thresholds to align with inflation or another index is referred to as "indexation." The government’s approach of increasing certain thresholds each year based on inflation is called "uprating." However, this policy is not consistently applied. When thresholds are frozen, tax revenues increase for HM Treasury without the need for any adjustments in tax rates. According to the latest estimate from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), the freeze on Income Tax thresholds is projected to generate an additional £38 billion annually by 2029-30.
