Labour plans wealth tax, and it won't be temporary

CityWire: Shadow chancellor Ed Balls has taken his lead from the Liberal Democrats and announced that Labour would introduce a permanent ‘wealth tax’ should the party be re-elected.

Full story: http://www.citywire.co.uk/money/labour-plans-wealth-tax-and-it-wont-be-temporary/a616105?

Boris attacks ‘misguided’ Lib-Dem plan for wealth tax

London Evening Standard: Boris Johnson today warned against introducing a wealth tax, claiming it would hit Londoners too hard. The Mayor waded in as shadow chancellor Ed Balls offered a deal with the Liberal Democrats to hit owners of high-value properties.

Full story: http://www.standard.co.uk/news/mayor/boris-attacks-misguided-libdem-plan-for-wealth-tax-8113199.html

HMRC targets higher rate taxpayers over late returns

Bytestart.co.uk: In the latest of a string of initiatives, HMRC has given higher rate taxpayers one month’s warning to complete any overdue tax returns, or face penalties of up to 100% of the amount of tax due.

Full story: http://www.bytestart.co.uk/hmrc-targets-higher-rate-taxpayers-over-late-returns.html?

Industry ‘horrified’ by Lib Dems threats to savings tax relief

IFAonline.co.uk: Industry experts are “horrified” that the Liberal Democrats are considering cutting tax relief on ISAs and pension contributions for the wealthy.

Full story: http://www.ifaonline.co.uk/ifaonline/news/2203093/industry-horrified-by-lib-dems-threats-to-savings-tax-relief?WT.rss_f=Home&WT.rss_a=Industry+%E2%80%98horrified%E2%80%99+by+Lib+Dems+threats+to+savings+tax+relief

Celebrities “regularly” dodge tax, says TUC

Accountancy Age: Celebrities and corporations frequently use complex tax arrangements in order to reduce their effective tax rate, according to a study by the Trades Union Congress.

Full story: http://www.accountancyage.com/aa/news/2202960/celebrities-regularly-dodge-tax-says-tuc?

Howard Kennedy FSI aims to take on Mishcons

Private Client Adviser: London-based law firm Howard Kennedy intends to increase its private client offering after its merger with Finers Stephens Innocent has been finalised. The two firms have signed heads 
of agreement with a view to merging under the name Howard Kennedy FSI by 1 November this year. Private client services will be one of Howard Kennedy FSI’s main focuses, with the combined firm claiming it 
“will become the pre-eminent legal advisers to entrepreneurs, wealthy individuals and families and their businesses and funders”.

Full story: http://www.privateclientadviser.co.uk/news/legal-practice/howard-kennedy-fsi-aims-take-mishcons