Updated interest rates and repayment thresholds for student loans announced
The latest annual update to Student Loan interest rates was made last week by the Department for Education.
Different rates and thresholds apply depending on the type of student loan and the new rates will apply from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2025.
Those running payroll may want to be aware that the rates are changing in case of queries from staff with student loans who notice a change in their deduction in their September pay packet.
For details of the rates, see: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/student-loans-interest-rates-and-repayment-threshold-announcement--5
HMRC have proposed a new criminal offence for making reckless, untrue statements or declarations about what's known as 'direct taxes' - Income Tax, National Insurance and the like. For Customs and Excise and VAT ('indirect taxes'), it is already possible to prosecute individuals who make untrue statements or submit incorrect documents either knowingly or recklessly, without the need to prove dishonesty. The penalties for such offences can be severe, including substantial fines and imprisonment. The direct tax regime does not currently contain an equivalent offence.
A new Freedom of Information (FOI) request has discovered that health and safety violations cost British employers over £44 million per year. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that serious breaches have resulted in an increasing number of prosecutions between 2023 and 2025.