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Backlog builds ahead of probate changes

The latest news from the world of personal finance. Changes to probate see a backlog building due to a massive fee hike from May. Plus HMRC's tax-free loan clampdown.

From May the cost of sorting out the estate of someone who has died will increase from a maximum of 拢215 to 拢20,000. The changes were part of a government consultation last year which they've pressed ahead despite huge opposition. Lawyers say these changes are unfair and will cause real hardship for many who will be unable to raise the money to pay the fees months before the estate is sorted out. They are also concerned about the backlog building as families try to sort the admin out ahead of the start date.

Thousands of freelance contractors face bills of hundreds of millions of pounds from the HMRC for using tax-free loans that helped them to reduce their tax and National Insurance payments.

And the Chancellor may have u-turned on increasing National Insurance Contributions for some self-employed - but not the poorest who will face a 拢600 increase in their contributions from April.

Presenter: Paul Lewis
Producer: Tony Bonsignore
Editor: Andrew Smith.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 Mar 2017 21:00

Chapters

  • Probate fee hike

    How planned increases to Probate fees could cost you up to 拢20,000

    Duration: 09:52

  • Contractor tax bills

    Tens of thousands of contractors could be facing huge tax bills

    Duration: 08:24

  • NICs U-turn

    How the U-turn on higher taxes for the self-employed doesn鈥檛 extend to everyone

    Duration: 04:16

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  • Sun 19 Mar 2017 21:00

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