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The Bank of England’s decision to reduce the base rate to 5% means that HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) will also reduce their interest rates.
The interest rates charged by HM Revenue and Customs on late tax payments, as well as the rates they pay on repayments are linked to the Bank of England’s base rate. Late payment interest is charged at base rate plus 2.5%. Repayment interest is paid at base rate minus 1%, subject to a minimum of 0.5%.
The reduced rates will apply from:
-12 August 2024 for quarterly instalment payments; and
-20 August 2024 for non-quarterly instalments payments.
If you need help with your tax or are concerned about being able to pay a tax payment, please get in touch. We can work with you to make a payment arrangement with HMRC.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/hmrc-late-payment-interest-rates-to-be-revised-after-bank-of-england-cuts-base-rate
Energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 4% increase in the energy price cap for the period covering 1 October to 31 December 2026. This increase reflects higher wholesale gas prices due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with volatile global gas markets remaining the dominant driver of price changes.
UK businesses are facing a “cost of business crisis”, according to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Its new cost-stack calculator shows government policy alone has pushed up an average firm's expenses by 70% over the past decade, adding roughly £827,000 a year in costs for a typical mid-sized business. About a quarter of the rise stems from the increase in employer National Insurance contributions, with the higher minimum wage and mandatory pension auto-enrolment also major contributors.
