ISA ALLOWANCE £20,000◆LIFETIME ISA 25% BONUS◆PERSONAL ALLOWANCE £12,570◆LISA LIMIT £4,000 / YEAR◆BASIC RATE TAX 20%◆HIGHER RATE TAX 40%◆NI THRESHOLD £12,570◆STATE PENSION AGE 66◆
ISA ALLOWANCE £20,000◆LIFETIME ISA 25% BONUS◆PERSONAL ALLOWANCE £12,570◆LISA LIMIT £4,000 / YEAR◆BASIC RATE TAX 20%◆HIGHER RATE TAX 40%◆NI THRESHOLD £12,570◆STATE PENSION AGE 66◆
Plain-English Finance Guides
The UK money terms that keep coming up in the news, explained simply. No jargon, no assumed knowledge.
All guides are definitions based on official government sources: gov.uk, HMRC, the Bank of England, Ofgem, and the FCA. They are not financial advice.
Income tax explained
UK tax bands, the Personal Allowance, and how PAYE works
National Insurance explained
What NI is, who pays it, current rates, and what it funds
How does an ISA work?
Tax-free savings and the £20,000 annual allowance explained
Lifetime ISA explained
The 25% government bonus, first-time buyer rules, and the withdrawal penalty
What is a pension?
Workplace pensions, auto-enrolment, and the State Pension explained
What is the base rate?
How the Bank of England's rate affects your mortgage and savings
What is inflation?
How CPI is measured and what rising prices mean for your money
How does a mortgage work?
Fixed vs tracker, LTV, repayment types, and SVR explained
How does stamp duty work?
SDLT rates, first-time buyer relief, and the April 2025 changes
What is Capital Gains Tax?
CGT on shares and property, the annual exempt amount and reliefs
How does the energy cap work?
What Ofgem's price cap actually limits on your bill
How does a stocks and shares ISA work?
Tax-free investing, the £20,000 allowance, and what you can hold inside one
State Pension explained
How much you get, NI qualifying years needed, and when you can claim
LISA and Help to Buy ISA: can you have both?
ISA allowance rules, transferring between accounts, and tax-free growth explained
LISA withdrawal rules
When you can access your money tax-free, and what the 25% penalty actually costs
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Disclaimer: These guides are for informational purposes only and do not constitute financial advice. FinanceSimply is not regulated by the FCA. All figures, rates, and rules are based on official government publications and are subject to change, always verify with HMRC, gov.uk, or a qualified adviser before making financial decisions.