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Budget 2017

Budget: Allowances

How tax changes affect investments

Craig Hendry 2
Pre-Budget speculation had widely expected Wednesday’s statement to be a tax raiser in an effort to prepare the UK for the effects of Brexit, ensuring that there is “gas inRead More

Budget: Oil and Gas

Budget aims to keep North Sea oil flowing

Hazel Cruickshanks
The Chancellor has responded to a call by the oil & gas industry to resolve tax issues which slow down asset transfers in the UK Continental Shelf (UKCS)...

Budget: Payroll changes

Bid for fairness means more tax tinkering

Chancellor Phillip Hammond wanted this to be the ‘upbeat’ Budget, but in reality employers were already impacted by previously announced changes before he rose to the dispatch box. Mr HammondRead More

Budget: Tax hike 'anti-enterprise'

Chancellor under attack over hit on self-employed

Philip Hammond, reversing national insurance pledge
Chancellor Philip Hammond suffered criticism from business leaders and is own backbenchers after hiking National insurance contributions for the self-employed. The measure, which breaks a 2015 Tory manifesto pledge onRead More

Budget: Investments

Changes to dividends, savings and pensions

The Chancellor’s cut in the dividend allowance for which company directors use to top up their income was described as anti-business. His change will also impact on savings and heRead More

Budget: Money Comment

Few changes, and that’s fair enough

Alan Steel
What’s the world coming to ? The UK March Budget used to be fun. Umpteen controversial changes aimed at the investment and financial planning community.   Boffins would pore overRead More

Budget: North Sea oil and gas

Help for North Sea should help exploration

Brent Oil field
An expert panel is to be established to look at further help for the North Sea oil and gas sector. New measures in the form of a statutory instrument are expectedRead More

Budget: Retail

Chancellor drops hints at online retail tax

shop closure
The Chancellor dropped broad hints of a tax on online retailers which was an issue raised by Daily Business ahead of today’s statement. There were few other measures to specificallyRead More

Budget: Impact on Scotland

Mackay urged to reverse cuts after Budget windfall

Money - own pic
Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay is under pressure to reverse his cuts to public services after receiving a £350 million windfall from the Budget. Chancellor Philip Hammond unveiled the extra fundingRead More

Budget: 4% rise in spirits duty

Whisky duty hike ‘a major blow’ to sector

Julie Hesketh-Laird
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) was dismayed by the Chancellor’s decision to impose a near-4% increase in excise duty on spirits – equivalent to 36p a bottle. The hike emergedRead More