Cashpoints: Does your tax return make you feel all floppy?

Saturday 09 May 1998 23:02 BST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

n Anyone who gets a tax return can fill in their forms electronically. The disks are free from the Inland Revenue and come with all the information you need to complete the forms. You'll still have to print out the complete form, sign it and send it in to the tax office. The electronic return is only for people with straightforward tax affairs. If you are self-employed or in a partnership, for example, you (or your accountant) will have to stick to paper.

The disks run on PCs with Windows 3.1 or above, 4MB of RAM and 6MB of available disk space. Call any tax office for details, listed under Inland Revenue in the phone book.

n Jupiter has launched a corporate bond unit trust fund. It is fully PEPable, with a minimum investment of pounds 500 or pounds 100 a month (pounds 50 in a PEP). The projected yield is 7 per cent gross, which is tax-free within a PEP or ISA from next year. The fund has an initial charge of 4 per cent and annual management fee of 1 per cent. Jupiter is launching the fund now because it believes interest rates will fall in the long-term, with a positive effect on bond prices. Call 0500 050098.

n Visa's annual holiday money guide is out now. It's good on local bank and shop opening hours, and has the numbers for Visa's worldwide global assistance service. There are special offers for Visa card holders including discounts on hotels and museums in Europe. Call 0171-231 5432 for a free copy.

n The Skipton Building Society's new Young Sovereign savings account is open to children under 18. It offers full membership rights and instant access. Rates start at 5.65 per cent gross for pounds 25-pounds 2,999 and 6.15 per cent gross on pounds 3,000-pounds 6,000. The account is branch-based. Call 01756 705030 for the address of a local branch.

n Anyone with large amounts in a bank or building society deposit account, and worried by Northern Rock's recent action in moving thousands of savers to lower-interest accounts, should look at a Treasury Account. Close Brothers pays money-market rates pegged just below Libor (London Interbank Offered Rate) and the interest rate changes every month. The independent yardstick means that it's impossible for the bank to offer you below-par rates. For May, the rate is 7.289 per cent. Minimum deposit is pounds 50,000. Telephone 0171-247 0747 for more details.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in