HMRC has launched a new digital service that allows millions of UK workers to take more control over their tax affairs. The tool, available through the Personal Tax Account and HMRC app, is designed for individuals who pay tax through PAYE. It lets users view and update their income details, allowances, reliefs, and job-related expenses directly, without needing to call or write to HMRC.

This is part of a wider move to modernise how tax is managed in the UK. HMRC’s aim is to make 90 percent of all interactions digital by the end of the decade. The new PAYE service is one of over 50 digital projects in HMRC’s ongoing transformation programme, which includes the use of artificial intelligence, automation, and more intuitive online tools.

One of the most noticeable changes will be a significant reduction in paper post. HMRC expects to save around £50 million a year by cutting back on letters, reminders, and forms sent by mail. That money will be reinvested into improving digital services, though anyone who is digitally excluded will still be able to access information and support in more traditional ways.

In addition, HMRC is deploying new AI technology to support customer service staff and reduce the need for repeat calls. This includes digital assistants that help users find answers online and tools to ensure tax guidance is always up to date. In compliance and enforcement, AI is being used to detect suspicious claims and prevent fraud.

The changes will also make it easier for workers to report mistakes, pay any outstanding tax, or amend their tax code. For parents affected by the High Income Child Benefit Charge, the process of managing their tax position will become simpler too.

The government has allocated over £1.7 billion to support this shift to digital, which includes hiring thousands of new staff to back up the systems and provide support to users.

HMRC’s direction of travel is clear: reduce paper, increase efficiency, and give taxpayers the tools to manage their affairs quickly and accurately. For PAYE workers, this means fewer surprises, faster responses, and greater visibility into how their tax is calculated. It is worth checking your Personal Tax Account to explore what is already available.

Draft legislation for the Finance Bill 2025-26 confirms a major shake-up to Inheritance Tax (IHT), affecting estates that include business assets, agricultural land, and pension funds. The proposed changes, announced on 21 July, aim to tighten reliefs and bring more value into the scope of IHT. The impact could be significant for business owners, farmers, and anyone planning to pass on unused pension savings.

Cap on business and agricultural relief

From 6 April 2026, the amount of business or agricultural property that qualifies for 100% IHT relief will be capped at £1 million per individual. Anything above that limit will only receive 50% relief. Previously, there was no financial cap provided the assets qualified under the relief rules.

This new cap will apply across both Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR), including assets placed into trust. If multiple trusts are involved, the £1 million limit will be shared between them in date order.

For many family businesses and farms, this may mean a higher IHT bill on death or on certain lifetime transfers. The government has confirmed that a ten-year instalment payment option will still be available to help manage large tax liabilities on qualifying property.

Pension pots to become liable for IHT

A further change is due to take effect from 6 April 2027, bringing most unused pension funds into the IHT net. At present, many pensions fall outside of IHT rules, but from this date, personal representatives will be required to report and pay IHT on the value of pension savings.

While death-in-service benefits will remain exempt, other pensions may now face combined tax charges where IHT and income tax both apply. Some estimates suggest that the overall tax burden could be as high as 67% in certain cases.

Transitional rules and planning considerations

Gifts made after 30 October 2024 could also be caught under the new rules if the donor dies within seven years. This transitional provision may affect individuals who have been actively planning to pass on business or agricultural property in their lifetime.

Planning ahead

These changes highlight the importance of regular estate planning. Business owners, farmers and those with pension wealth should now review their plans. Early action may help to protect family wealth and reduce tax exposure under the new regime. Professional advice is strongly recommended.

On 15 July, the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, unveiled a set of changes to the UK’s financial system. These reforms are designed to encourage investment, make it easier to buy a home, improve pension outcomes, and remove unnecessary red tape. While much of the detail will unfold in the coming months, the changes already announced could affect the way individuals borrow, save, and plan for the future.

Here are some of the key points explained in plain English, along with why they may matter to you.

Mortgages may become more accessible

One of the most eye-catching changes is a push to make mortgage lending more flexible. Some major lenders will now be allowed to offer larger loans, based on a higher multiple of your income. For example, someone on £30,000 a year might now be able to borrow more than before, making it easier to get on the housing ladder.

The income thresholds for special mortgage schemes are also being reduced, which could open up new opportunities for first-time buyers and those with modest earnings.

If you are thinking about buying your first home or moving to a larger property, this may be the right time to review your options with a mortgage adviser. With interest rates still relatively high, it is important to ensure that repayments remain affordable, even if you can borrow more.

A push to encourage long-term investing

The government wants to encourage people to put more of their savings into investments, rather than leaving everything in cash accounts. To support this, banks and building societies will be inviting savers to consider whether a stocks and shares ISA might be a better fit for their long-term goals.

If you are someone with money sitting in a cash ISA or savings account, now might be a good time to review whether it is earning a decent return. Over time, even small amounts invested sensibly in the stock market can grow much more than cash held at low interest rates.

You do not need to be an expert or take big risks. But talking to a financial adviser or reviewing your savings strategy with your accountant can help you make informed decisions.

Pensions under review

Another significant part of the reforms is the launch of a new review into pensions. This will look at whether people are saving enough, whether workplace pensions are working as they should, and how the system could be improved.

Although no immediate changes have been made, there could be shifts in the rules around auto-enrolment, pension contributions, or retirement ages in the near future. For the self-employed, this review may lead to new pension options being made available.

It is a sensible time to check in on your pension arrangements. Are you saving regularly? Do you know what your pension might be worth at retirement? Could you afford to contribute a little more each month?

Making finance simpler and more effective

The Chancellor also announced plans to cut back on complicated financial regulations. The idea is to free up banks to lend more, help businesses raise money more easily, and allow the financial sector to operate more efficiently.

While this may sound distant from everyday life, it could improve access to funding for small business owners, open up new investment options, or help keep the UK competitive in global finance.

What should you do now?

You do not need to act on everything immediately. But it is a good time to reflect on your own financial plans:

• If you are planning to buy a home, check if you may now qualify for a larger or more affordable mortgage.
• If you are saving in cash, consider whether part of that could be invested for better long-term returns.
• Review your pension contributions, especially if you have not looked at them in a while.
• Ask questions. Your accountant or financial adviser can explain how these changes might apply to your situation.

The new government has made it clear that change is coming. By staying informed and reviewing your plans now, you can make sure those changes work in your favour.

Inboxes can quickly become overwhelming. Whether you receive ten or a hundred emails a day, it does not take much for things to spiral out of control. Before you know it, your inbox is full of unread messages, missed deadlines, and stress-inducing clutter. The good news is that managing your inbox does not have to take over your life. With a few small habits, you can regain control and keep it that way.

Check your inbox at set times

One of the easiest traps to fall into is checking your emails constantly throughout the day. It breaks your focus and creates unnecessary anxiety. Instead, try checking your inbox at set times. For example, once mid-morning, once after lunch, and once before you finish for the day. You do not need to respond to every message immediately, and most things can wait an hour or two. This approach helps reduce distractions and allows you to tackle emails in batches, rather than one by one as they arrive.

Use folders or labels

If your inbox is your to-do list, it is worth making it work for you. Most email platforms allow you to create folders, apply labels, or use categories. You might have folders for ‘To respond’, ‘Waiting on a reply’, ‘Filed for reference’, or ‘Completed’. When emails come in, file them into these groups rather than letting them pile up in your main inbox. It helps clear visual clutter and ensures that nothing important is lost in the noise.

Unsubscribe and declutter regularly

Over time, you might find yourself signed up to all sorts of newsletters, alerts, or automated emails. While some of these may be useful, many are not. If you find yourself deleting a particular newsletter every time it arrives, consider unsubscribing. A good clear-out of old subscriptions can dramatically reduce the volume of incoming mail and help you focus on what matters.

Turn off unnecessary notifications

Most smartphones and email apps send a pop-up or sound every time a message lands. These alerts create pressure to deal with things straight away, even when it is not necessary. Turning off notifications, or only leaving them on for key contacts, can help you stay in control. It allows you to choose when to check your inbox, rather than letting the inbox dictate your schedule.

Make it a habit to ‘inbox zero’ weekly

Inbox zero does not mean your inbox must be empty every minute of the day. But setting aside time once a week to tidy up, archive completed conversations, delete what is no longer needed, and deal with anything outstanding can keep things from becoming unmanageable. Some people like to do this on a Friday afternoon so they can start the new week with a clean slate.

Final thought

Your inbox is not in charge – you are. With a few small changes to how and when you engage with it, you can take back control, reduce stress, and free up more time for the things that really matter.

With inflation cooling, interest rates nearing their peak, and a new government in place, the UK economy is showing signs of cautious recovery. However, not all sectors are moving in the same direction. Some industries are bouncing back strongly, while others continue to lag. Here is a snapshot of the three best-performing and three worst-performing sectors so far this year.

Top three performing sectors

Private services – especially consumer-facing

The private services sector has delivered the strongest performance, with notable gains in hospitality, leisure, and consumer-focused activities. This part of the economy has benefited from improving confidence and a pick-up in discretionary spending. Services output has grown at its fastest pace in nearly a year, suggesting that consumers, though still price-conscious, are returning to restaurants, entertainment, and travel in larger numbers.

House-building

While the wider construction sector remains mixed, residential development has seen a modest recovery. Activity in house-building improved for the first time in over six months, supported by slightly lower materials costs and a build-up of demand from earlier in the year. This growth is still fragile, but it reflects cautious optimism among developers responding to stabilising interest rates and stronger mortgage approvals.

Financial, legal, and technology services

Professional services continue to be a bright spot, helped by steady export demand and strong global positioning. Financial and legal firms remain central to the UK’s services-driven economy, and the technology sector continues to expand its share of GDP. The UK’s position as a hub for fintech, consulting, and digital services remains secure, supporting steady job growth and investment in these areas.

Bottom three performing sectors

Commercial construction

In contrast to the improvement in house-building, commercial construction is stuck in reverse. Activity has declined sharply, with businesses scaling back investment in office, retail, and large-scale commercial projects. Developers remain wary of long-term occupancy trends and face higher borrowing costs. As a result, fewer commercial projects are breaking ground, and future pipelines look lean.

Manufacturing

The UK manufacturing sector continues to struggle with low output, weak demand, and elevated input costs. Although some sub-sectors, such as food processing, remain resilient, others, including automotive and textiles, are experiencing sharp contractions. Global supply chain issues and subdued export orders have dampened confidence, and the sector has yet to regain the momentum it had pre-2020.

Hiring and employment services

While not a traditional sector in itself, employment and recruitment activity gives a strong signal of economic health. Unfortunately, hiring confidence is down significantly, with many employers delaying recruitment. This is partly due to concerns over demand, and partly linked to rising employment costs, such as the increased rate of employer National Insurance contributions. As a result, recruitment agencies and HR services are facing declining revenues and job openings are down across many industries.

Conclusion

The UK economy remains a mixed bag. Private and professional services are driving forward, helped by improved consumer activity and export performance. However, manufacturing and commercial property are still facing headwinds, and the slowdown in hiring suggests that employers are not yet convinced the recovery is sustainable.

Policymakers will be watching closely. Continued weakness in construction and manufacturing could weigh on overall growth, even as parts of the economy start to accelerate again. The question now is whether confidence spreads, or whether the divide between sectors continues to widen.