Money news: page 8
- April 2026
Pension interests brought into inheritance tax from 6 April 2027
Pension pots and other pension death benefits will form part of a person's estate for inheritance tax purposes for deaths on or after 6 April 2027, under the Finance Act 2026.
Plan 5 repayment holiday ends
A repayment exemption for plan 5 student loan borrowers, which applied on or before 5 April 2026, is omitted from 6 April 2026 under the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009.
Scottish income tax basic and intermediate thresholds to rise by 7.4% from April 2026
Scotland's draft Budget for 2026-27 raises the basic and intermediate income tax thresholds by 7.4% from April 2026, while the higher, advanced and top rate thresholds stay frozen.
New tax year changes take effect from Monday
The new tax year begins on Monday 6 April 2026 with frozen thresholds, the lifting of the two child limit, and day one rights to statutory sick pay and unpaid parental leave.
Tool updated with 2026 to 2027 tax year rates
HMRC has updated its online tool for checking tax on dividends and savings interest with the 2026 to 2027 rates, alongside its tax code checker and published Income Tax rates and allowances.
Trust CGT guidance updated for rates and UK property reporting changes from 6 April 2026
HMRC has updated its trusts and Capital Gains Tax guidance to reflect rate changes and UK property reporting rules taking effect from 6 April 2026, including a new 18% rate for Business Asset Disposal Relief.
New UC and ESA IR rates come into operation in Northern Ireland
New regulations setting Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance rates for Northern Ireland come into operation on 6 April 2026, in parity with the equivalent Great Britain instrument.
Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payment in Scotland
The Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, paying £62 automatically to people on qualifying benefits between December and February.
2026/27 DLA and CDP child rates published
The 2026/27 rates for the care and mobility components of Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment have been published, with weekly care payments of up to £114.60.
Benefit cap earnings threshold raised to £881
The monthly earnings threshold at which households escape the benefit cap rose to £881 from April 2026, up from £846, under Universal Credit rules that also changed disability and work allowance amounts.
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods rates updated from April 2026
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods rates in Scotland rise from April 2026, with the Pregnancy and Baby Payment at £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for each subsequent child.
Big Council Tax rises take effect in England
Council Tax in England rises for almost every household from April, averaging £111 more a year for Band D homes, with the lowest-income families spending nearly 5 per cent of income on the tax.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland
Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland and is now available across the country, with three further payments for carers also in place.
Certain Universal Credit and ESA rates handled under separate legislation
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 sets most State Pension and benefit rates for April 2026, while certain Universal Credit and ESA rates are handled separately.
New council tax collection rules come into force in Wales
Households in Wales now have 63 days to deal with a missed council tax instalment before enforcement action, replacing a minimum of 14 days under rules that took effect on 1 April 2026.
Council tax rises from April 2026
Council tax bills rose across England and Wales from 1 April 2026, with most authorities increasing by the maximum 4.99% allowed without a referendum and six councils permitted to go further.
Crisis and Resilience Fund launched as successor to Household Support Fund
The Crisis and Resilience Fund opened in April 2026 as the replacement for the Household Support Fund in England, running until March 2029 with crisis payments and resilience support from local councils.
DHPs in England incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund
Discretionary Housing Payments in England were incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund from April 2026, with the DWP confirming DHP statistics will continue as a Wales-only series.
Discretionary Housing Payments become CRF Housing Payments in England
Discretionary Housing Payments in England have been folded into the Crisis and Resilience Fund and renamed CRF Housing Payments from 1 April 2026, under a scheme funded for three years.
Domestic energy prices fell following a reduction in the Ofgem energy price cap
Ofgem's energy price cap reduction cut typical annual energy bills by £117 from 1 April 2026, and official data show gas and electricity inflation falling from April onwards.
DRD rollout to more customers from April 2026
HMRC is widening the use of Direct Recovery of Debts from April 2026, allowing it to take money owed directly from some customers' bank and building society accounts.
Energy bills to be cut as government removes policy costs from electricity bills
The government has removed some policy costs from electricity bills from 1 April 2026, cutting unit rates and standing charges for households on variable and fixed tariffs in Great Britain.
FCA Targeted Support to roll out from April 2026
The Government is working with the Financial Conduct Authority to roll out Targeted Support for consumers from April 2026, allowing authorised firms to suggest products to groups of customers.
Guidance updated and Discretionary Housing Payments information removed
The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its Housing Benefit rent factsheet, removing Discretionary Housing Payments information and pointing claimants to their local council instead.
Higher energy prices from Middle East conflict set to leave typical working-age household £480 worse off in 2026-27
The Resolution Foundation estimates higher energy prices linked to the Middle East conflict will leave the typical working-age household £480 worse off in 2026-27 than it would have been otherwise.
Late submission penalties to apply to MTD ITSA taxpayers with income over £50,000
From 6 April 2026, HM Revenue & Customs will apply its points-based late submission penalties to businesses, self-employed people and landlords with income over £50,000 who are mandated into Making Tax Digital for Income Tax.
LHA rates frozen for 2026 to 2027
Local Housing Allowance rates used to work out housing support for private renters will stay at their 2025 to 2026 levels for the year from 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027.
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax becomes mandatory for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000
Making Tax Digital for Income Tax became mandatory in April 2026 for sole traders and landlords with qualifying income over £50,000, with the first quarterly update due by 7 August 2026.
National Minimum Wage and National Living Wage rates increase
The National Living Wage rose to £12.71 an hour on 1 April 2026, with the National Minimum Wage rates for younger workers and apprentices also increasing.
Net mortgage borrowing fell in April while approvals for house purchases rose
Bank of England data show net mortgage borrowing fell to £4.4 billion in April from £6.8 billion in March, while approvals for house purchases rose to 65,900.