Will there really be a new property tax - and how would it work?
We’re still a couple of months away from the Autumn Budget, but already the rumour mill is in overdrive.
But while pensions, inheritance and even cash Isas have taken the spotlight in the past year, this week, a new tax target has emerged... property.
This week, Helen Crane, Lee Boyce and Georgie Frost look at the wild ideas being bandied about when it comes to reform on how we pay tax on homes.
The Treasury shut down the idea of a ‘seller tax’ on homes above £500,000, but other plans appear to be on the table.
This includes an annual property tax to replace stamp duty, replacing council tax with an annual local tax based on property values and a potential ‘mansion tax’ – AKA, levying a capital gains tax bill on properties sold over a certain value.
Elsewhere, we warn over the rise of a sophisticated deepfake scam involving well known investment gurus – and how people were ensnared into a pump and dump ruse.
We investigate the airport currency rip-off. Sure, most of us know we’ll get a poorer rate by leaving it until the last minute, but did you know the sneaky tricks being used?
And sticking with the holiday theme, Lee transports you to the brocantes of France… and talks through the stats that show we have no idea how to tip abroad.
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Down valuations are on the rise - should it worry buyers and sellers?
Down valuations are on the rise, so what happens if you and your mortgage lender don't agree on your new home's value?
This week, Georgie Frost, Simon Lambert and Lee Boyce talk through the home valuation process and whether it is a fair system for banks, borrowers and sellers.
How much more would you be willing to pay to be in a good school's catchment area?
New data suggests living near a good primary or secondary school is becoming pricier.
Are you saving enough for your age? The adage is three to six months' worth of income - but for some age groups, it should be one to three years.
Move over Swiftonomics, it's all about the Oasinomics - or as Lee describes it, Rkidinomics. How much have the Gallagher brothers added to the UK economy this year?
And finally, supermarket self-checkout cameras - are they legal?
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Interest rate decision divides Bank of England - what does it tell us about the economy?
The Bank of England has cut interest rates again, but this time, the decision wasn’t straightforward.
Georgie Frost, Lee Boyce and Helen Crane ask what the division in the Monetary Policy Committee tells us about the state of the economy right now, and what the cut means for our money.
We also talk about plans to hit those in wealthier areas with bigger council tax bills. Why is the current system so unequal, and how could your area be affected?
Helen discusses a water company who told an elderly couple they needed their pipework replacing at a cost of thousands - when in reality, all they needed was a new water meter (which is given away for free).
Finally, Lee explains who can claim from the car finance scandal - and what to do if you can't find the paperwork.
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The 37 taxes you pay and why it now takes £3.1m to feel 'wealthy'
While the average household pays £16,700 in direct tax on income, our audit shows this is just the tip of the iceberg.
We all pay a multitude of other taxes, from air passenger duty to environmental levies on our energy bills.
Lee Boyce, Simon Lambert and Georgie Frost discuss what the total sum is - and that our tax rate is more like 57 per cent.
And tax rises don't always bring in more cash for the Treasury coffers.
As the Government weighs up introducing yet another tax - this time a wealth tax - we explore why despite the allowance being slashed the capital gains tax take is down and what it means for the Chancellor's plans.
How much you need to feel wealthy in different areas of Britain? Does £1million still cut it?
The six burning questions everyone is asking financial advisers right now… and their expert answers
And we answer a reader query: Could I give £250 gifts to 400 people who then pay them to my daughters to beat inheritance tax on £100,000?
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When will you be able to retire... and will it be with a state pension?
A stark warning has been sounded that the state pension age could have to rise to 74 for those under-30s.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies' pronouncement in the same week that the government announced a state pension review set the cat amongst the pensions.
But would Labour - or any party - really hike the state pension age that high? Wouldn't it be political suicide and spark protests in the street?
The IFS warning hinged around the triple lock and balancing the books, but it's clear that the risk of the state pension age rising from its current timetable's maximum 68 is high.
On this episode of the This is Money podcast, Georgie Frost, Helen Crane and Simon Lambert, discuss what could happen to the state pension, when we might be able to retire and what we all need to do to get there.
Pension saving is also under the spotlight and the team discuss how to make the most of your work scheme or a Sipp.
Plus, a double tax hit on inheritances is on the way, as pensions are pulled into the net. Does the government need to change tack rather than plough on with a levy that will reach 64 per cent for many affected?
The FTSE 100 finally broke through 9,000 this week, is 10,000 on the cards and why is the UK stock market doing well?
And finally, buy and hold is the traditional investment mantra, so why does one bitcoin expert say you shouldn't do that and should trade it instead?
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