Finance Legislation

Laws governing financial services, banking regulation, insurance, investment, and securities trading.

The Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2025

Published: Fri 14th Mar 25

The Pensions Increase (Review) Order 2025, effective April 7, 2025, increases the annual rate of public service pensions.

For pensions starting before April 8, 2024, the increase is 1.7%.

For pensions starting on or after that date, the increase is 1.7% multiplied by a fraction representing the months between the pension's start date and April 7, 2025.

Similar increases apply to lump sums.

The order outlines adjustments for guaranteed minimum pensions, reducing the increase based on their rate of payment.

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The Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement (Belarus) (Revocation) Order 2025

Published: Thu 13th Mar 25

This Order, effective April 1st, 2025, revokes the 2018 Double Taxation Relief and International Tax Enforcement agreement between the UK and Belarus.

The revocation applies to income tax, capital gains tax, corporation tax, and comparable Belarusian taxes, impacting tax years 2025-26 onward for income tax and capital gains tax, and financial years beginning April 1st, 2025, onward for corporation tax.

The stated reason for the revocation is not detailed in the Order itself.

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The Armed Forces and Reserve Forces (Compensation Scheme) (Amendment) Order 2025

This Order amends the 2011 Armed Forces and Reserve Forces Compensation Scheme.

It increases the weekly armed forces independence payment to £187.45 and the Motability payment to £77.05.

Additionally, it adds a new descriptor to Schedule 3, covering overuse injuries of the larynx requiring operative treatment, making a temporary award permanent.

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The Non-Domestic Rating (Levy and Safety Net) (Amendment) Regulations 2025

Published: Thu 13th Mar 25

The Non-Domestic Rating (Levy and Safety Net) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 amend the 2013 regulations governing the calculation of retained rates income for local authorities in England and Wales.

Key changes include adjustments to formulas for calculating retained rates income for the year beginning April 1st, 2025, specifically for authorities with 100% business rates retention and the Greater London Authority.

The regulations also correct the retained rates income calculation for North Northamptonshire, addressing an error in the 2022 regulations.

These amendments aim to improve the accuracy of calculations and ensure fair distribution of funds.

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The Statutory Neonatal Care Pay (Miscellaneous Amendments) Regulations 2025

These regulations amend existing UK legislation to incorporate statutory neonatal care pay, as introduced by the Neonatal Care (Leave and Pay) Act 2023.

The amendments update the Statutory Payment Schemes (Electronic Communications) Regulations 2002 and Income Tax legislation (Pay As You Earn Regulations 2003 and Construction Industry Scheme Regulations 2005) to include references and administrative processes related to this new parental benefit.

The changes streamline administration and ensure consistent legal treatment of statutory neonatal care pay.

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The Help-to-Save Accounts Regulations 2025

The Help-To-Save Accounts Regulations 2025 amend the 2018 regulations governing Help-to-Save accounts.

Key changes include lowering the minimum earned income requirement for Universal Credit claimants to £1 and removing the reference to the national living wage in eligibility criteria.

The amendments aim to simplify eligibility and broaden access to the savings scheme for low-income individuals.

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The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 3) Regulations 2025

These regulations, effective April 6, 2025, amend the Social Security (Contributions) Regulations 2001.

They exclude the qualifying amount of tax redress payments from earnings calculations for Class 1 National Insurance contributions.

This applies to tax redress payments made to members of MPs', Senedd, and Northern Ireland Assembly pension schemes as compensation for tax liabilities arising from a pension calculation method change.

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The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2025

The Social Security (Contributions) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2025, effective April 6th, 2025, amend the 2001 Social Security (Contributions) Regulations.

Specifically, they modify the reporting requirements for Real Time Information (RTI) employers.

The amendment clarifies that employers must report earnings information to HMRC unless employee earnings fall below either the lower earnings limit or the secondary threshold, whichever is lower.

This ensures consistent reporting even when the secondary threshold is below the lower earnings limit.

A Tax Information and Impact Note was deemed unnecessary due to the absence of substantive tax policy changes.

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