Core Insights - HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) reported that inheritance tax (IHT) receipts for April 2025–January 2026 reached £7.1 billion, an increase of approximately £100 million compared to the same period last year, indicating a continuing upward trend in IHT receipts [1] - The increase in IHT is attributed to a prolonged freeze in the nil-rate band and residence nil-rate band, along with sustained growth in property values and investment portfolios over the past decade, resulting in more families being subject to IHT [2] - The impact of IHT at a rate of 40% is significant, particularly for estates valued between £3 million and £5 million, where tax liabilities can exceed £1 million without proper planning [3] Tax Revenue Overview - HMRC's total gross receipts for the tax take and National Insurance (NI) contributions during the same period amounted to £784.9 billion, reflecting an increase of £65.6 billion compared to the previous year [3] - Income Tax, Capital Gains Tax, and NI contributions saw a combined increase of £52 billion, totaling £460.7 billion [4] - Value Added Tax (VAT) receipts rose by £9 billion to £154.3 billion, while stamp duty and related taxes increased by £1.9 billion, reaching a total of £17 billion [4] - Business tax receipts for April 2025–January 2026 were reported at £81.8 billion, marking a £1.8 billion increase from the same period last year [4]

Each year you file your taxes you hope that it’s done and dusted and you don’t have to think about that year’s taxes ever again. However, there are cases where the IRS can assess penalties and interest for tax mistakes years after a return is filed. To drill down into the most common tax moves that can trigger these penalties years later, I enlisted ChatGPT to help me dig up what you need to know about how the IRS can penalize you down the road, and how to avoid it. 1. Failure To File or Pay on Time On ...

原题：江苏A级纳税人数量全国第一 来源：新华日报 2025年，江苏全年组织税费收入30351.9亿元，其中税收收入15801.6亿元，同比增长3.8%。全省支持科 技创新和制造业发展主要政策减税降费及退税3319.97亿元。江苏在全国率先实现水资源税"一键确 认"申报智能预填，率先推出社保非税信用预警，A级纳税人数量排名全国第一；"十四五"时期，江苏 累计征税收费超14.5万亿元，新增减税降费1万亿元，约占全国十分之一，在服务经济社会高质量发展 中贡献重要税务力量。 会议要求，"十五五"时期全省税务系统要更好展现"大省税务新气象"，努力打造"政治强业务精、基础 实效能高、风气正活力足、勇创新争一流"的新时代江苏新税务。(王建朋) 2月10日，全省税务工作会议在南京召开。会议总结2025年及"十四五"时期全省税务工作，研究谋划"十 五五"时期及2026年工作。 ...

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the news is that the implementation of the new VAT law has led to a unified VAT rate of 3% for small-scale taxpayers, eliminating the previous 5% rate, which raised expectations for a reduction in personal housing sales VAT from 5% to 3% [1] - The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation announced that from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027, general taxpayers can choose to apply a simplified tax method with a 5% rate for specific taxable transactions, including real estate leasing contracts signed before April 30, 2016 [1] - The specific scenarios where the 5% rate applies include six categories, such as real estate leasing contracts, toll fees for roads with construction dates before April 30, 2016, and sales or transfers of real estate and land use rights acquired before that date [1] Group 2 - Currently, there are two VAT calculation methods: the general method for general taxpayers, which allows for input tax deductions and applies rates of 6%, 9%, and 13%, and the simplified method for small-scale taxpayers, which has a statutory rate of 3% for those with annual sales not exceeding 5 million yuan [2]

Core Viewpoint - The Chinese government is implementing a more proactive fiscal policy in 2025 to support major national strategic tasks and basic livelihood financing, ensuring a stable and orderly fiscal operation while achieving economic and social development goals [1] Fiscal Revenue and Expenditure - In 2025, the national general public budget revenue is projected to be 21,604.5 billion yuan, a decrease of 1.7% from the previous year, while tax revenue is expected to be 17,636.3 billion yuan, reflecting a growth of 0.8% [2] - The general public budget expenditure is anticipated to reach 28,739.5 billion yuan, an increase of 1% year-on-year, with significant growth in social security and employment (6.7%), education (3.2%), and health (5.7%) expenditures [3] Tax Revenue Performance - Key tax categories such as domestic value-added tax and corporate income tax have shown positive growth, indicating an increase in economic activity. For instance, the domestic value-added tax grew by 3.4%, and corporate income tax increased by 1% [2][3] - Specific industries like computer communication equipment manufacturing and scientific research services have seen substantial tax revenue growth, with increases of 13.5% and 14.3%, respectively [2] Consumption Support Measures - The government has introduced various funding policies to boost consumer spending, including a program for replacing old consumer goods, which has resulted in sales exceeding 2.6 trillion yuan and benefiting over 36 million people [5][6] - Initiatives to support new consumption formats and international consumption environments have been launched, with 65 pilot cities selected for funding to enhance consumer experiences [6] Childcare Subsidy Implementation - A new childcare subsidy program has been established, providing approximately 100 billion yuan in subsidies for children under three years old, marking a significant step in direct cash support for families [7] - The program aims for broad coverage and fairness, ensuring that all eligible children receive equal benefits, with over 30 million children already receiving subsidies [7][8]

Although the foundations of the tax code remain fairly similar from year to year, the rules are constantly evolving. Many Americans still file their taxes based on deductions and credits they remember from years ago, only to discover those tax breaks quietly expired, phased out or were sharply narrowed. For example, temporary pandemic relief programs have long since ended and several long-standing deductions have been recently changed or been eliminated. Here’s a look at some of the most commonly assumed ...

Core Insights - The IRS Free File program is operational for the 2026 tax season, allowing eligible taxpayers to access free tax software through IRS.gov/freefile before the official filing period starts on January 26 [1][5] - The Direct File program, which allowed for pre-populated tax returns, has been discontinued, leading to potential confusion among taxpayers regarding free online filing options [2][4] Group 1: IRS Free File Program - The Free File program has been available since 2003 and is designed for taxpayers with an adjusted gross income of $89,000 or less in 2025 [5] - The IRS anticipates receiving approximately 164 million individual income tax returns in 2026, with a majority expected to be filed electronically [3] - Despite the program's potential to assist around 70% of American taxpayers, only 3.1 million individual returns (approximately 1.93%) utilized Free File in fiscal year 2024 [6][7] Group 2: Direct File Program - Direct File was a pilot program that started in 12 states in 2024 and expanded to 25 states but was never available nationwide [2] - The program allowed qualified taxpayers to file simple returns directly with the IRS, but it has been officially ended as of November 2025 [2][4] - The discontinuation of Direct File may lead to misconceptions among taxpayers about the availability of free online filing options [4]

Core Insights - The IRS is undergoing significant personnel and operational changes aimed at improving taxpayer service and modernizing the agency ahead of the 2026 tax filing season [1][5] Group 1: Organizational Changes - Frank Bisignano, the CEO of the IRS, announced a reorganization of executive leadership and new priorities for the agency [3] - Gary Shapley, a whistleblower, has been appointed as deputy chief of the Criminal Investigation division, while Jarod Koopman will replace Guy Ficco as head of Criminal Investigation and serve as chief tax compliance officer [4] - Joseph Ziegler, another whistleblower, has been named chief of internal consulting [5] Group 2: Tax Filing Season Preparation - The IRS is preparing to process approximately 164 million individual income tax returns in 2026, which is consistent with the previous year [7] - The average refund amount for the previous year was $3,167, and it is anticipated that the Republican tax law will lead to larger refunds in 2026 [7] Group 3: Challenges Ahead - The IRS workforce has been reduced by 26%, raising concerns about the upcoming tax filing season amidst significant tax law changes [6] - Erin M. Collins, head of the National Taxpayer Advocate, indicated that the 2026 tax season could face challenges due to the workforce reduction and new tax regulations [6]

Federal income tax rates range from 10% to 37%. The exact tax rate depends on factors like filing status and income. The greater your income, the more you’ll generally pay in taxes. Depending on where you live, you may also have to pay state income tax. But what might happen if federal income taxes were to become flat-rate? According to ChatGPT, there could be multiple repercussions for individual taxpayers and the economy. Taxes Would Be Simplified Although the exact effects of a flat-rate income tax ...

This story was originally published on CFO Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Cutbacks in the budget and staff at the IRS may perpetuate in 2026 a nearly $700 billion shortfall in the collection of taxes owed known as the tax gap, according to the IRS Advisory Council. Although Congress each year identifies spending deemed necessary, it “has not adequately appropriated the funding needed to ensure that the revenues will be efficiently a ...