Last-minute rush to beat 50p tax deadline - papers

According to The Financial Times, advisers said there had been a surge in interest since new year from businesses wanting to shift the timing of payments or introduce tax-efficient plans to avoid the new top tax rate. A similar drive has prompted bigger or accelerated dividend payments by companies where directors own substantial chunks of equity. Hargreaves Lansdown, HomeServe, Pennon Group and Beazley made such moves this month. Chris Page, head of employee incentives at KPMG, the professional services group, said finance directors were being "harangued" by colleagues seeking to mit...