The government has announced its plan to introduce a new digital ID scheme, which will become the standard way to complete Right to Work checks by the end of the current Parliament.
The digital ID will be available to all UK citizens and legal residents and will be stored securely on mobile phones in the same way as the NHS App or contactless payment methods.
The new system should make compliance simpler for employers carrying out Right to Work checks. Guidance will follow as the roll-out progresses, with a consultation later this year to help shape how the service works.
The government has confirmed there will be options for people unable to use smartphones, and security will be built in through encryption and authentication technology.
For now, employers should watch for updates and prepare for digital checks becoming mandatory.
See: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-digital-id-scheme-to-be-rolled-out-across-uk
The government has published a technical consultation on its new Founders’ Relief. The consultation itself provides an overview of the proposed qualifying conditions for it, including individual and company requirements and what must be satisfied. HMRC’s own figures, however, show that the strict conditions mean only about 600 individuals will be eligible to apply each year.
It’s bad news for mortgage holders and borrowers as the Bank of England (BoE) raises interest rates by a quarter point to 4% for the first time since August 2023.