Matthew Jenkin

Matthew Jenkin, Senior Writer at Which?, and Mitch Young, Director of Fusion Consulting Group, dive into the world of tax preparation. They emphasize the importance of navigating self-assessment forms accurately to avoid mistakes. Listeners gain insights on upcoming tax changes for 2025 and learn effective strategies to minimize their tax bills. The duo shares essential tips on allowable expenses and the significance of consulting professional advisors to ensure compliance and optimize financial positions.

Matthew Jenkin, a money writer at Which?, and Susannah Streeter, Head of Money and Markets at Hargreaves Lansdown, dive into the implications of the recent Spring Statement. They analyze the impacts of new tax policies and welfare reforms on personal finances and discuss how inflation affects consumer spending. The conversation also touches on the current banking landscape, highlighting favorable savings rates and easing mortgage conditions. They explore potential ISA reforms, tax changes for the self-employed, and the reactions from financial markets.

This discussion features Matthew Jenkin, a Which? Money writer specializing in personal finance, and Marcus Johns, a Senior Research Fellow focused on public policy. They tackle the striking 5% increase in council tax bills and explore the historical funding shifts that led councils to rely more on local taxpayers. Frustration over rising bills despite declining services is palpable. Listeners learn about exemptions, discounts for specific groups, and practical tips to navigate council tax challenges and potentially reduce their payments.