Pension providers are seeing a rise in lump-sum contributions to retirement funds ahead of the Budget, amid concerns the Chancellor will push ahead with plans to cut higher rate tax relief.

HMRC is tightening up on all tax payments and, in some cases, refusing requests for deferrals on larger VAT bills, research suggests.

SimplyBiz has appointed three directors to its main board to help support its expansion plans.

The Norwich and Peterborough (N&P) building society wrote to its Keydata customers as early as 2006 with concerns about the clarity of the provider's marketing material.

The Chancellor is likely to announce additional public spending cuts or tax rises of £34bn a year in his emergency Budget next week, economists warn.

Zurich is planning to move its £35bn British life assurance business to Dublin to cut its tax bill.

More than 17,000 vicars, teachers and doctors have signed a petition urging Chancellor George Osborne to scrap plans to increase capital gains tax (CGT).

Tory MP John Redwood has advised the Government it will plug the massive gap in the public coffers quicker if CGT is set at a rate people view as a "bargain".

The FSA has appointed Tom Boardman as senior adviser on life insurance.

Advisers are concerned service quality could suffer if Resolution succeeds in a takeover of AXA's annuity, protection and group pension business.