As the current series of The Tax Factor draws to a close, Nimesh Shah and Heather Self serve up a final episode looking back over the last 12 months. From the arrival of a new Labour government to the twists and turns of the Chancellor’s fiscal manoeuvrings, it’s been a year of tax drama, policy pivots, and HMRC under the microscope.

There’s a sense of déjà vu as we head into the summer break - more questions than answers, and a tax landscape still in flux. Plus, in honour of Wimbledon week, we can’t resist a final rally with the VAT query of the season: the M&S strawberries and cream sandwich.

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This week on The Tax Factor Neil Insull and Suzanne Briggs look at Reform’s controversial proposal for a 'Britannia Card' that would let wealthy foreigners pay a £250k fee to move to the UK and live exempt from all tax, and a significant rise in HMRC investigations into high earners, signalling a more aggressive compliance strategy.

Elsewhere, the tax gap among SMEs is growing - what’s causing it, and how might it be closed? Plus, in estate planning news, Glastonbury founder Michael Eavis may have struck the right chord with tax planning that could legally bypass £80 million in inheritance tax.

And finally, as Wimbledon serves up bigger prize pots, Neil and Suzanne reveal how it’s also serving HMRC a bigger slice of the winnings.

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This week on The Tax Factor Rehana Earle and Ele Theochari look at possible U-turns on the non-dom regime, with Rachel Reeves reportedly reconsidering inheritance tax on global assets amid City concerns.

They also discuss the High Court ruling that allows VAT on private school fees, rising tax receipts including a 14% hike in IHT, and a delayed Tax Freedom Day as fiscal drag bites. Plus, we revisit Making Tax Digital, with new guidance ahead of the  rollout is HMRC going to be helpful to tax payers and agents around the new tax reporting framework?

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This week Roger Holman and Neil Insull discuss the Chancellor's Spending Review and pose the critical question on everyone's mind: "Where is the money coming from?" As opposition parties warn of a "cruel summer" filled with speculation. Roger and Neil also examine the logic and fairness of recovering Winter Fuel payments from pensioners through the tax system. Will HMRC really pursue thousands of small debts?

They also look at the case of former darts world champion Rob Cross, who has been disqualified from serving as a company director after failing to pay over £450,000 in taxes. With no further penalties imposed, is this the level of enforcement the public expects?

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This week on The Tax Factor, Ola Adigun and Robert Salter ask where the money might come from to fund the major Government spending pledges we've been hearing about. With little room for manoeuvre, Robert suggests the Chancellor may revisit measures such as fuel duty, car benefits, and road tax and could there be a U-turn on previous manifesto commitments?

Meanwhile, HMRC continues to battle poor public perception. Will the new outsourcing plans improve customer service, or just add to the frustration?

And in a less-than-rhythmic move, HMRC wins a tribunal ruling to impose VAT on personal dance tuition - a decision that could have broader implications for education providers.

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It’s a week of big questions and Nimesh Shah and Tomm Adams are on hand to dig into them.

Why does HMRC think clawing back Winter Fuel Allowance from wealthier pensioners via self-assessment is even remotely workable?

Has anyone noticed fuel duty has remained frozen for nearly 15 years?

Why did Walkers take their Popadom VAT case to the Upper Tribunal?

As politicians across the spectrum line up to make expensive promises, Nimesh and Tomm ask: who’s actually going to pay for it all as the tax burden soars?

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This week on The Tax Factor, Heather Self and Roger Holman ask whether Angela Rayner should stop auditioning for Chancellor after her tax policy ideas were leaked and heavily critiqued.

Meanwhile, HMRC is getting heat from all directions: the National Audit Office questions its handling of wealthy taxpayers, and the Public Accounts Committee says the tax system is spiralling into complexity, public trust is fading, and confidence in HMRC’s IT overhaul is shaky at best.

Scottish Power had a fine reduced to £1 but paid £28 million in compensation. The big question: can that be claimed as tax deductible? HMRC and Scottish Power don’t see eye to eye.

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This week on The Tax Factor, Rehana Earle and Neil Insull discuss the closure of the historic Beales department store after 144 years, blamed on rising taxes and a worsening business climate. With the CIPD warning of a prolonged drop in employer confidence, what does the future hold for the UK labour market?

Next, they examine a surprising tribunal victory, where a taxpayer successfully argued that their luxury property, complete with marble swimming pool and expansive wine cellar was their main home, defeating HMRC. Finally, could President Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on TV and film production deal a major blow to Britain’s thriving creative industries?

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In this episode we look at the topic of female entrepreneurs: why do women make great entrepreneurs, what differentiates them from male founders and what specific support do they typically need? Which sectors do they gravitate toward and why do they often have challenges securing funding?

Joining Declan to debate all of this are Sarah Austin, Founder & Managing Director of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, and Sam Smith, Co-Founder of Super Scalers.

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This week, we celebrate the retirement of Martin Reynard, pensions expert and longstanding Blick Rothenberg veteran, after nearly 40 years in the profession, including over three decades with the firm.

Martin reflects on the evolution of pensions and why, despite decades of change, they remain one of the most powerful and essential tools in financial planning today. We look at why pensions still matter from tax relief and employer contributions to flexibility and intergenerational planning and explore the biggest shifts over Martin’s career: the highs of pension freedoms and growing personal control, and the lows of mis-selling scandals and creeping complexity.

It’s a thoughtful and insightful look at pensions through the eyes of someone who’s seen it all.

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