Money news: page 6
- April 2026
COBS 15 cancellation rules updated
The FCA updated the COBS 15 Cancellation chapter of its Handbook on 6 April 2026, including the table of cancellable contracts, cancellation periods, disclosure duties and exemptions.
ISA amendment regulations 2026 changes take effect
Amendments to the Individual Savings Account Regulations 1998 took effect on 6 April 2026, changing which investments qualify for stocks and shares, Junior and Innovative Finance ISAs.
Long Term Asset Funds to be permitted in Stocks & Shares ISAs from April 2026
Long Term Asset Funds will be permitted in Stocks and Shares ISAs from 6 April 2026 under regulations made in March, while UK cryptoasset exchange traded notes move to Innovative Finance ISAs.
LTAFs become eligible for stocks and shares ISAs and Junior ISAs and lose IFISA eligibility
From 6 April 2026 Long Term Asset Funds can be held in stocks and shares ISAs and Junior ISAs but lose their Innovative Finance ISA eligibility, while cryptoasset exchange traded notes move the other way.
NICs rates, limits and thresholds for 2026-27 take effect
National Insurance rates, limits and thresholds for the 2026-27 tax year take effect from 6 April 2026, with Class 2 and Class 3 rates and the lower earnings limit rising in line with September CPI.
Paternity leave becomes a day one right for employees
Paternity leave became a day one employment right on 6 April 2026, with the previous qualifying period removed and a rule that removed entitlement on taking shared parental leave scrapped.
Pension Credit toolkit updated with 2026 to 2027 benefit and pension figures
The Department for Work and Pensions has updated its Pension Credit toolkit with benefit and pension figures for 2026 to 2027, in English and Welsh, adding new posters and YouTube videos.
Pension interests brought into inheritance tax from 6 April 2027
Pension pots and other pension death benefits will form part of a person's estate for inheritance tax purposes for deaths on or after 6 April 2027, under the Finance Act 2026.
Plan 5 repayment holiday ends
A repayment exemption for plan 5 student loan borrowers, which applied on or before 5 April 2026, is omitted from 6 April 2026 under the Education (Student Loans) (Repayment) Regulations 2009.
Scottish income tax basic and intermediate thresholds to rise by 7.4% from April 2026
Scotland's draft Budget for 2026-27 raises the basic and intermediate income tax thresholds by 7.4% from April 2026, while the higher, advanced and top rate thresholds stay frozen.
New tax year changes take effect from Monday
The new tax year begins on Monday 6 April 2026 with frozen thresholds, the lifting of the two child limit, and day one rights to statutory sick pay and unpaid parental leave.
Tool updated with 2026 to 2027 tax year rates
HMRC has updated its online tool for checking tax on dividends and savings interest with the 2026 to 2027 rates, alongside its tax code checker and published Income Tax rates and allowances.
Trust CGT guidance updated for rates and UK property reporting changes from 6 April 2026
HMRC has updated its trusts and Capital Gains Tax guidance to reflect rate changes and UK property reporting rules taking effect from 6 April 2026, including a new 18% rate for Business Asset Disposal Relief.
New UC and ESA IR rates come into operation in Northern Ireland
New regulations setting Universal Credit and income-related Employment and Support Allowance rates for Northern Ireland come into operation on 6 April 2026, in parity with the equivalent Great Britain instrument.
Winter Heating Payment replaces Cold Weather Payment in Scotland
The Winter Heating Payment has replaced the Cold Weather Payment in Scotland, paying £62 automatically to people on qualifying benefits between December and February.
2026/27 DLA and CDP child rates published
The 2026/27 rates for the care and mobility components of Disability Living Allowance and Child Disability Payment have been published, with weekly care payments of up to £114.60.
Benefit cap earnings threshold raised to £881
The monthly earnings threshold at which households escape the benefit cap rose to £881 from April 2026, up from £846, under Universal Credit rules that also changed disability and work allowance amounts.
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods rates updated from April 2026
Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods rates in Scotland rise from April 2026, with the Pregnancy and Baby Payment at £796.65 for a first child and £398.35 for each subsequent child.
Big Council Tax rises take effect in England
Council Tax in England rises for almost every household from April, averaging £111 more a year for Band D homes, with the lowest-income families spending nearly 5 per cent of income on the tax.
Carer Support Payment replaces Carer's Allowance in Scotland
Carer Support Payment has replaced Carer's Allowance in Scotland and is now available across the country, with three further payments for carers also in place.
Certain Universal Credit and ESA rates handled under separate legislation
The Social Security Benefits Up-rating Order 2026 sets most State Pension and benefit rates for April 2026, while certain Universal Credit and ESA rates are handled separately.
New council tax collection rules come into force in Wales
Households in Wales now have 63 days to deal with a missed council tax instalment before enforcement action, replacing a minimum of 14 days under rules that took effect on 1 April 2026.
Council tax rises from April 2026
Council tax bills rose across England and Wales from 1 April 2026, with most authorities increasing by the maximum 4.99% allowed without a referendum and six councils permitted to go further.
Crisis and Resilience Fund launched as successor to Household Support Fund
The Crisis and Resilience Fund opened in April 2026 as the replacement for the Household Support Fund in England, running until March 2029 with crisis payments and resilience support from local councils.
DHPs in England incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund
Discretionary Housing Payments in England were incorporated into the Crisis and Resilience Fund from April 2026, with the DWP confirming DHP statistics will continue as a Wales-only series.
Discretionary Housing Payments become CRF Housing Payments in England
Discretionary Housing Payments in England have been folded into the Crisis and Resilience Fund and renamed CRF Housing Payments from 1 April 2026, under a scheme funded for three years.
Domestic energy prices fell following a reduction in the Ofgem energy price cap
Ofgem's energy price cap reduction cut typical annual energy bills by £117 from 1 April 2026, and official data show gas and electricity inflation falling from April onwards.
DRD rollout to more customers from April 2026
HMRC is widening the use of Direct Recovery of Debts from April 2026, allowing it to take money owed directly from some customers' bank and building society accounts.
Energy bills to be cut as government removes policy costs from electricity bills
The government has removed some policy costs from electricity bills from 1 April 2026, cutting unit rates and standing charges for households on variable and fixed tariffs in Great Britain.
FCA Targeted Support to roll out from April 2026
The Government is working with the Financial Conduct Authority to roll out Targeted Support for consumers from April 2026, allowing authorised firms to suggest products to groups of customers.