Author: Glenn

The Employment Appeal Tribunal slashed a £10,000 award for injury to feeling by 80% after an original tribunal ruling was deemed not to be Meek compliant as it failed to provide adequate reasons for the quantum awarded. A Miss Graham was employed by Eddie Stobart Ltd. for just over ten months as a planner when she became pregnant and immediately notified her line manager. Miss Graham asserted her right to be offered suitable alternative employment during her maternity leave under the MAPLE Regulations. She was interviewed for a new role but was unsuccessful and was terminated by reason of redundancy although her grievance Email to HR was blocked by the firewall.

Miss Graham complained that she had been "automatically" and unfairly dismissed as per Section 99 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 on the basis that the new role should have been given to her in priority to others who were not on maternity leave. The first Tribunal found that Miss Graham had not been unfairly dismissed but upheld her claim of detrimental treatment and pregnancy/maternity discrimination and awarded £10,000 for injury to her feelings. Eddie Stobart Ltd. appealed and the second tribunal found the award excessive given that she had soon found alternative employment and had not endured prolonged suffering.

This case underscores the importance of presenting evidence supporting any claim for injury to feelings in the form of a ‘checklist’, although HR departments should note that those who are forced to chase up their grievances during allocated maternity or paternity leave may have grounds for such claims, however excessive or seemingly irrational.

Stopping future payments from being made on your debit or credit card is crucial for avoiding unwanted charges and managing your finances effectively. Here’s how you can do it:

The first step is to contact the company taking the payments. Request that they cancel the recurring charge and provide confirmation in writing or via email.

If the merchant refuses to stop the payments, you can contact your bank or card provider. Under UK law, you have the right to cancel recurring payments (also known as Continuous Payment Authorities, CPAs) at any time. Banks are legally required to stop the payment when requested.

Many banks allow you to manage subscriptions and regular payments through their online or mobile banking services. Look for options under “Manage Payments” or “Recurring Transactions” to cancel them yourself.

If all else fails, cancelling your debit or credit card and requesting a new one can be an effective way to stop unauthorised charges. However, this should be a last resort, as it can cause disruption to other legitimate payments.

Regularly checking your bank statements ensures that no unauthorised payments slip through. If you spot an issue, report it immediately to your bank.

Taking these steps will help you stay in control of your finances and prevent unwanted payments from continuing.

Private pensions can be a great way to pass on wealth, but tax implications depend on the age of the deceased and the type of pension. Some beneficiaries may receive funds tax-free, while others could face significant tax charges. Knowing the rules is essential.

Private pensions can be an effective means of passing on wealth, but it is crucial to consider the potential tax implications when inheriting a private pension. Typically, the individual who passed away will have nominated the beneficiary by informing their pension provider of their wish for the remaining funds in the pension pot to be inherited by you. If the nominated beneficiary cannot be located or has since passed away, the pension provider may make alternative arrangements and direct the funds to someone else.

In general, if you inherit a private pension from someone who died before the age of 75, the benefits remaining in the pension can be paid out as a lump sum or drawdown income without any tax liability. However, if the pension holder passed away after the age of 75, the inherited pension will be subject to taxation at your marginal income tax rate. This means you would pay 20% tax if you are a basic rate taxpayer, 40% if you are in the higher tax bracket, or 45% if you are taxed at the top rate. Note that tax rates may differ for Scottish taxpayers.

For pensions from a defined benefit scheme, typically associated with workplace pensions, there are additional restrictions. In most cases, the pension can only be paid to a dependant of the deceased, such as a spouse, civil partner, or a child under the age of 23. If the pension scheme permits, this rule may be adjusted, but any inheritance under such circumstances may be subject to a tax charge of up to 55% as an unauthorised payment.

The rules governing pension inheritance are complex, varying depending on the type of pension and the age of the deceased at the time of death. Furthermore, there are strict time limits that must be adhered to in order to ensure compliance.

Umbrella companies offer an easy way for freelancers and contractors to get paid without running a limited company. They handle payroll and tax via PAYE, ensuring compliance and employment rights. But are they the right choice for you? Consider the pros and cons.

Essentially, an umbrella company acts as an intermediary between the worker and the end client (or recruitment agency), handling payroll, taxes, and other administrative tasks on behalf of the worker.

The worker enters into a contract with the umbrella company. In most cases, the umbrella company employs the worker and pays their wages through PAYE. The umbrella company then enters into a separate contract with the client or recruitment agency who requires the worker's services.

As an employee of an umbrella company, a worker has the same employment rights as other employees including the right to a written employment contract.

There are many advantages to using an umbrella company, this can include simplifying tax obligations, employee rights and IR35 compliance. Some of the disadvantages can include the costs of using the umbrella company, limited control and the overall tax burden may be higher compared to other structures that may be available.

Over 11.5 million people met the 31 January 2025 self-assessment deadline, but 1.1 million taxpayers missed it. If you're one of them, expect a £100 penalty. Learn about late fees and HMRC’s payment plan options to avoid further charges.

There are an estimated 1.1 million taxpayers that missed the deadline. Are you among those that missed the 31 January 2025 filing deadline for your 2023-24 self-assessment returns?

If you have missed the filing deadline then you will usually be charged a £100 fixed penalty if your return is up to 3 months late, regardless of whether you owed tax or not. If you do not file and pay before 1 May 2025 then you will face further penalties unless you have arranged to pay with HMRC.

If you are unable to pay your tax bill, there is an option to set up an online time to pay payment plan to spread the cost of tax due on 31 January 2025 for up to 12 months. This option is available for debts up to £30,000 and the payment plan needs to be set up no later than 60 days after the due date of a debt.

If you owe self-assessment tax payments of over £30,000 or need longer than 12 months to pay in full, you can still apply to set up a time to pay arrangement with HMRC, but this cannot be done using the online service.