George Osborne, who will cut the 50p top rate of tax to 45p in tomorrow's Budget, will leave the door open to a further cut to 40p before the next general election.

Chancellor reveals he will crack down on tax dodgers as 'Quad' meets for final time to thrash out details

End of controversial property tax breaks leaves the Pope facing €600m-a-year bill

Nick Clegg is demanding a "tax the rich" Budget in March to head off growing fears that the Coalition will lose public support because its deficit-reduction programme is seen as unfair on ordinary families.

Lib Dems call for rich to pay mansion tax.

Panic and dismay is spreading through "Dordogneshire" and other British holiday haunts in France after the French parliament approved plans for a new tax on second homes.

Non-domiciled residents of the UK face paying an extra annual charge of £20,000 after 12 years, in a move the Chancellor said would bring in more than £200m.

The total value of the UK fell for the second year in a row during 2009, official figures showed today.

A battle has been raging this week over the coalition Government’s plans to restore capital gains tax (CGT) to its previous 40 per cent level. While Vince Cable, the Business Secretary, says the current rate of 18 per cent is an open invitation to tax avoidance, others say raising CGT to the equivalent level of income tax will hit savers.

Festival-goers have been warned to take extra care of their valuables while they party this year. Nearly one in five festival-goers lost valuables at an event last year, often due to theft, research from insurer Allianz has shown.

Retailers have urged the Government to freeze new business rate burdens and reinstate tax relief for empty property, as the beleaguered sector faces a £1bn-plus hike in property costs from controversial legislation.

Commercial property developers are lobbying for a piece of the US government's Wall Street bailout fund, warning yesterday that a real estate crash could wreak new havoc on the banking system next year.