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Scottish Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Big tax change for thousands of households from TODAY – check if your bill will go down
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A MAJOR change to tax interest has come into effect today – and it could mean lower bills for thousands of households who owe HMRC. From 28 May 2025, the late payment interest rate has fallen from 8.5% to 8.25%, following a drop in the Bank of England base rate. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 1 From 28 May 2025, the late payment interest rate has fallen from 8.5% to 8.25% Credit: Alamy It marks the first fall in tax interest rates since they hit a decades-high in April. As of April 2025, interest on late payment of tax had been pushed to 8.5%, up from 7.75%, as part of a shake-up by HMRC linking the rate to the base rate plus 4%. But with the Bank of England base rate dropping slightly to 4.25%, HMRC has confirmed that from today, the late payment interest is now set at 8.25%. The decision has now resulted in lower mortgage payments for homeowners but could mean reduced returns for savers. The base rate influences interest rates that lenders offer on savings and borrowing, including mortgages. This latest reduction follows a previous cut in February, when rates were lowered from 4.75% to 4.5%. The MPC then held interest rates steady in March. The changes to the late payment interest rate now means that if you've missed a payment on your tax bill, you'll now be charged slightly less in interest than you were last month. HMRC said: 'The late payment interest rate encourages prompt payment. It ensures fairness for those who pay their tax on time.' Meanwhile, repayment interest – paid when HMRC owes you money – is also changing. What is the Bank of England base rate and how does it affect me? From today, it's set at 3.25%, based on base rate minus 1%, with a minimum floor of 0.5%. HMRC added: 'The repayment interest rate compensates taxpayers fairly, when they overpay, for loss of use of their money.' What changed in April? In a big shift from 6 April 2025, HMRC began setting late payment interest at base rate + 4%, instead of the previous +2.5%. That change – combined with a high base rate – pushed the interest rate on unpaid tax to its highest level in decades. But the new rate of 8.25% is still steep, so it's vital to pay your taxes on time to avoid fees mounting up. Who needs to file a tax return? You'll need to submit a tax return if: You earn income through self-employment You rent out property and earn over £2,500 You or your partner claim child benefit and one earns over £50,000 You earn more than £150,000 You have other untaxed income or claim large expenses If it's your first time, register early – it can take time to receive your Unique Taxpayer Reference (UTR) and activation code. What to do if you can't pay right now You should get in touch with HMRC and let them know you're having issues making your payments. They may allow you to spread the repayments out over time. Citizens Advice recommends that you ask to talk about a "time to pay agreement". This agreement will give you either more time to pay, or a schedule to pay your tax in instalments. It's a good idea to do this rather than bury your head in the sand. You can contact HMRC online or by phone on 0300 200 3300. You can also write to them at: Pay As You Earn and Self Assessment HM Revenue and Customs BX9 1AS United Kingdom How to get free debt help There are several groups which can help you with your problem debts for free. Citizens Advice - 0800 144 8848 (England) / 0800 702 2020 (Wales) - 0800 144 8848 (England) / 0800 702 2020 (Wales) StepChange - 0800138 1111 - 0800138 1111 National Debtline - 0808 808 4000 - 0808 808 4000 Debt Advice Foundation - 0800 043 4050 You can also find information about Debt Management Plans (DMP) and Individual Voluntary Agreements (IVA) by visiting or Speak to one of these organisations - don't be tempted to use a claims management firm. They say they can write off lots of your debt in return for a large upfront fee. But there are other options where you don't need to pay. Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@ Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Sport
- The Hindu
Strong fundamentals and a sharp tactical mind make Tavish a name to watch out for
Indian tennis has many juniors striving hard to make a mark and forge their path towards becoming professionals. While there is no dearth of effort from most, some stand out to the discerning eye, like Tavish Pahwa, who wound up 2024 as the country's No. 1 in both the under-16 and under-14 sections. The best evaluation of such a talent is done by a coach of considerable calibre, like Australian Todd Clark, who has been associated with Indian tennis for about 15 years. Having worked with Tavish for about a year and a half, he believes the 15-year-old will soon be 'a name to watch' on the global stage. 'Athletically gifted, Tavish has excellent movement, speed and agility on the court. His ability to cover all areas of the court, paired with a sharp tactical mind, sets him apart from his peers,' Todd explained. 'He reads the game exceptionally well, often anticipating his opponent's moves and devising effective strategies to counter them. His composure and court awareness are rare qualities for someone of his age.' Further analysing the youngster, Todd spoke highly about his technical and mental capabilities. 'Tavish's game is built on strong fundamentals. While all aspects of his game are clean, focused work is ongoing to refine his serve and return to turn them into defining weapons,' he said. Tavish is a fierce competitor and enjoys being in the thick of battle, against quality opponents who push him hard to bring out his best. 'There has been a marked improvement in his emotional control and discipline, on and off the court. With continued exposure to high-level competition, his ability to make sound decisions under pressure will only improve,' Todd said. The coach is understandably proud that Tavish has been able to back his case by finishing the year as No. 1 in both under-14 and under-16 in 2024. Meet Tavish Pahwa, the 14 yr old boy making heads turn on the world junior circuit! The 14-yr old, who trains under Coach Todd Clark, has exemplary accomplishments already. ⏩ Ranked in the World Top-20 in his age group by UTR ⏩ Orange Bowl U12 Semi Finalist ⏩ Eddie Herr U12… — Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) October 8, 2024 'Apart from finishing last year as No. 1 in the country in both under-14 and under-16, Tavish also won the National under-16 title. He secured his first ITF singles title in Colombo. These milestones mark Tavish as one of the country's most promising young talents,' he said. Tavish, who has slipped to No. 3 in the country in the under-16 rankings, recently won all his matches against the Top 5 seeds in the selection trials for the Junior Davis Cup team. Rather than trying to play more tournaments and stay as No. 1, Tavish and his family decided to go to Europe in March to check out five of the world's best tennis centres, including Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, Patrik Mourtoglou centre in France, and the Piatti Centre in Italy. Todd believes that Tavish needs to set himself up in Europe to gain the required exposure whenever he enters the professional grind. European pit stop 'Like many of India's top talents before him, Tavish must look beyond domestic borders. Training in Europe would provide the intensive, high-level environment essential for his growth,' Todd pointed out. 'Players like Sumit Nagal, Sasikumar Mukund and Manas Dhamne have all benefited from similar pathways. Recently, Maaya Rajeshwaran made the move to Rafael Nadal Academy to further her development.' Tavish got a taste of Europe last year as part of the Asian under-14 team, an experience Todd believes gave him 'a valuable benchmark' for assessing his current level and identifying areas that need refinement. Tavish's parents Seema and Gaurav, who have been diligently shaping the boy's career, are grateful for the timely support, especially from the Shiv Nadar School in Faridabad, where he is enrolled. Strong support system 'The support of Tavish's school has been a game-changer. The school has stood by him as a pillar of strength, helping Tavish to pursue his sporting goals without compromising on his academics. We are also deeply grateful to Shiv Nadar Foundation and HCL Tech for their generous financial support that has helped his career in so many different ways, including the visit to Europe to find a suitable academy,' said Seema. The mother was happy that Tavish could visit five of the best coaching centres in Europe, with appointments facilitated by the IMG, the leading sports management company. 'Coaches at these academies expressed keen interest in working with Tavish and indicated the possibility of offering scholarships,' said Seema. Expensive affair While Tavish is getting ready to represent the country in the Junior Davis Cup Asia-Oceania event in Kazakhstan, apart from representing Haryana in the Khelo India Games, the family is working hard to gather the financial support to meet the expenses of keeping him in one of the prestigious academies in Europe. 'There is no dearth of talent in India. However, one of the biggest challenges remains funding. The high cost of international travel, coaching, and equipment often limits opportunities for young athletes. 'Without adequate financial support, even the most talented prospects face significant hurdles in reaching their potential,' stressed Todd. Tavish's goal is to be in the top 100 of the world junior rankings by next year and get into the junior Grand Slams.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Britain's Blu Baker cooks up a quarterfinal win in Mardy Fish tennis championships
VERO BEACH – On his strong serving right arm, Blu Baker has a tattoo that reads: Tennis is happiness, winning is everything. On a breezy, hot Friday afternoon at the Vero Beach Tennis and Fitness Center, Baker realized both in a high-level 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory over American teen Jack Kennedy to advance to the semifinals of the Mardy Fish Children's Foundation Tennis Championships. Advertisement The $15,000 ITF-USTA Pro Circuit event donates most of the proceeds to local charities to provide underserved children with healthy afterschool care and summer activities in Indian River County. Baker, 23, who lived his first 10 years in Portsmouth, U.K., before moving to Naples for 10 years and then Boca Raton (since 2022) partially attributed his ability to come from behind to his longtime domination in the Battle of Boca, a $10,000 UTR event held weekly at the South County Regional Park at Rick Macci's Tennis & Fitness Center. Baker has won the popular weekly hard-court tournament run by Jason Zafiros a record 13 times. One more and Fish tournament director Randy Walker jokingly compared his feat to Rafael Nadal's amazing 14 title runs at the French Open, where Baker has played only in juniors. 'It builds confidence,'' said Baker in his British accent. 'For a lot of us it's hard to believe in ourselves but luckily for that tournament, Jason runs a very good event over there, a lot of these players have played there. It gives us a good opportunity to get matches in and a lot of confidence and some prize money, which is huge for us. Advertisement 'The matches paid off; they really did.' Mardy Fish Tennis Championships: Andrew Fenty, young Americans find success in Vero Beach Blu Baker, Great Britain It was a tough day for America's brightest teens as wild-card, 17-year-old entrant Keaton Hance – who earned his first two ATP ranking points this week – was unable to deal with the power and consistency of 27-year-old qualifier Ryan Dickerson of Marlton, N.J., in a 6-1, 6-0 loss in a quarterfinal on the clay. 'I'm trying to find ways to get better on this journey and try to improve holistically all the time,'' said the 1298th-ranked Dickerson, who is into his first ITF semifinal after a six-year college career split between Duke and Baylor where he studied psychology and tennis coaching. Advertisement 'You don't lose; it's a you learn type mindset. You have chances every week. That's what's unique about the Futures. One week isn't super important because you have 35 of them.' Dickerson will play the winner of the match between Andrew Fenty of College Park, Maryland (and Boca Raton) and seventh-seeded (only seed remaining) Will Grant of Boca Raton in one semifinal. Kennedy, 16, and Hance, who have won several junior tennis tournaments around the world together and are committed to the University of Virginia and Texas respectively, are still alive in the doubles and will play Baker and Fenty in an evening semifinal match. Kennedy, a Long Island native, is the 10th-ranked junior in the world while Hance is ranked 23rd. Both young men should be proud of how well they played against grown men. Advertisement 'It didn't go my way today. That happens in the sport we play,'' Kennedy said. 'It hurts a lot but I can't really be too mad at myself. I had a great run here and are still in the doubles. He stepped up his level in the second and really found his game. We got next week at Orange Park and am looking forward to that.' At 5-foot-7, 140 pounds, Kennedy was painting the lines with his formidable groundstrokes and delicate drop shots to take the first set. Kennedy, who possesses a Doogie Howser-like genius tennis IQ, was up a break at 3-1 before Baker began cutting down on his unforced errors. With Kennedy serving at 4-5, the 6-3 blonde Brit broke Kennedy at 15-40 to even the match at a set apiece. Baker, who has the more potent forehand, went up 3-1 when Kennedy strained a glute muscle while changing directions. For the rest of the match, he was unable to plant on his forehands. A couple of dead-let cords that would've given Kennedy a break at 2-4 went against him to give Baker the comfortable 5-2 cushion. Advertisement At 5-3 on his third match point Baker glided in to rip a sitter floater cross court for the victory. He has won one ITF $15K title (Boca, 2022) and five doubles titles. 'He's a complete and utter fighter,'' said Baker, who trains at One Tennis Academy in Boca Raton and has been coached by his father Steve, a longtime high school tennis coach in New Jersey and former player at the University of Santa Barbara. 'He's very quick and got to a lot of balls and I knew this was going to happen. I knew he would bring it from the start and I had to bring it to him and thankfully I did.' Baker will play 23-year-old Tomas Luis, a former standout at Belmont University where he lives in Nashville, after the 956th-ranked Portugal native downed the 6-6 Preston Brown, an Omaha transplant living in Boca Raton, 6-2, 6-3. Luis' best pro result was a semifinal finish in a $25K in Portugal earlier this year. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Mardy Fish tennis championships: Blu Baker cooks up a quarterfinal win
