Around 500,000 people who complete self assessment tax returns will have to wait longer than normal to find out how much tax they have to pay, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has announced.

The government is asking businesses for their views on integrating the income tax and national insurance contributions (NIC) systems.

Tax experts say there could be “grave consequences” unless problems with the PAYE system are resolved before the introduction of a new system.

Retailers’ lives are set to be made easier after the government said more than 160 regulations would be simplified or scrapped in the first changes to be introduced through its Red Tape Challenge.

Conciliation service Acas helped to prevent more than 13,000 workplace disputes between individuals and their employers from reaching an employment tribunal, its latest annual report has shown.

Students are being reminded that they may not have to pay any  tax on the money they make from summer jobs.