This time next week, we’ll know thank goodness, and have moved the discussion on to Halloween parties or ‘don’t believe in that American stuff what’s wrong with Bonfire Night’. That the current speculation is that AIM portfolios might be safe from Inheritance Tax reforms is a relief and echoes my own long-held thought that it’s the safest of the IHT mitigation bets. Investing in smaller companies, taking some risk for a tax break when you’re dead and so supporting British enterprise has to be a strong case, particularly for a government pledged to grow the economy. As those already invested will know (if they’ve put themselves through the stress of checking), the recovery in values of AIM companies has been held back by speculation of what might or might not be to come. Assuming we’re reading the runes correctly, prices could rise sharply in relief at the end of next week. One way or another, at least we’ll know. Let’s hope for better and not worse.
“We’ll have to increase taxes, says Reeves”
You heard it here last, and you’ve already heard plenty of it here already in recent weeks, alas. Of course some taxes will have to go up, but none that will affect working people. So it’s likely to be those layabout rich fat cats paying high rate tax, with investments, savings and decent pensions.