§ 02 · The Ledger

News & Analysis

What moved in UK money this month — rate decisions, house price data, tax and allowance changes — and what each one means for the numbers you run through our calculators.

6 pieces, newest first · Prefer the fundamentals? Read our evergreen guides.

§ 01

Latest

6 pieces
№ 01Tax

Millions More UK Taxpayers Pulled Into the 40% and 45% Bands in 2026/27

HMRC projections put 7.7 million people in the 40% higher-rate band and 1.3 million in the 45% additional-rate band for 2026/27 — both up by about a third since 2023/24. What the thresholds mean for your take-home pay.

Cedric Mukolonga·5 min read
№ 02Savings

Santander Launches 8% Regular Saver — What the Headline Rate Actually Pays

Santander's new Regular Saver pays a market-leading 8% AER on up to £200 a month. How the variable rate is built, what you could earn, and how it compares with first direct's fixed alternative.

Cedric Mukolonga·6 min read
№ 03Mortgage

UK Mortgage Rates 2026: What the April Rate Spike Means for Buyers

UK two-year fixed mortgage rates peaked at 5.90% on 12 April having climbed from 4.83% at the start of March (Moneyfacts) before falling to 5.54%. Zoopla put London first-time buyers at +£232/month at peak, the north east at +£66. Here's what the data shows.

Cedric Mukolonga·4 min read
№ 04Tax

UK Property Tax Reform 2026: The £2 Million Mansion Tax, Council Tax Admin Changes, and the Local Authority Restructure

Council tax is not being abolished. The November 2025 Budget kept it and added a new High Value Council Tax Surcharge (mansion tax) of £2,500-£7,500 a year on homes worth over £2 million, collected from April 2028. Council tax administration is also being reformed for the first time since 1993. Here is what every figure means.

Cedric Mukolonga·4 min read
№ 05Savings

Cash ISA cap from April 2027: what the £12,000 limit for under-65s means for your savings

From 6 April 2027 the Cash ISA allowance falls from £20,000 to £12,000 for savers under 65. The Stocks and Shares ISA allowance stays at £20,000. Here is what the change means, who it affects, and why the 2026/27 tax year is the last full Cash ISA window for under-65s.

Cedric Mukolonga·6 min read
№ 06Mortgage

Inheritance tax on pensions from April 2027: what the change means for your estate

From 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds will fall inside the deceased's estate for Inheritance Tax. Here is what changes, who it affects, and how the calculation differs from the pre-2027 treatment.

Cedric Mukolonga·7 min read