Early on in his combined autumn statement and spending review, Chancellor George Osborne has announced that improvements in the public finances mean that controversial plans to cut tax credits have been abandoned

Wednesday sees the Chancellor deliver a combined autumn statement and spending review, following on from two Budgets earlier in the year, with predictions suggesting a focus on tax avoidance, pensions and business taxes, and warnings against making the tax system unnecessarily complex and hitting businesses too hard, reports Pat Sweet 

Jonathan Riley, partner and head of tax at Grant Thornton considers the long-term impact of HMRC's announcement on the next stage of its 'building our future' plan to revitalise customer service, improve its efficiency and be a tax administration fit for the 21st century

The US Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) have announced measures to reduce abuse of profit shifting by multinational companies taking advantage of the tax benefits of corporate inversions, in a bid to prevent US companies using legislative loopholes that allow them to move their tax residence overseas to avoid paying taxes, without restructuring their main activities and centre of operations

Individuals who use umbrella companies to shelter from tax may need to swiftly review their arrangements or face punitive consequences, in light of the recent consultation into employment intermediaries and tax relief for travel and subsistence, says Jaimie Kaffash