Tech
UK government commits to Loan Charge settlement reforms in wake of independent review into policy | Computer Weekly
The UK government has committed to wiping thousands of pounds off the outstanding settlements of everyone who remains in scope of the Loan Charge, in response to the latest independent review into the controversial disguised remuneration policy.
The retroactive tax policy has left thousands of IT contractors living under the shadow of life-changing tax bills since it came into force in April 2019, who previously participated in loan-based remuneration schemes between December 2010 and April 2019.
Scheme participants are typically paid in part for the work they do in the form of non-taxable loans, allowing those involved to bolster their take-home pay. The Loan Charge policy was introduced to recoup the tax that scheme participants avoided paying. However, the policy’s critics claim it fails to take into account that, before and during the time period the Loan Charge covers, many of these schemes were mis-sold to participants as being an “HM Revenue & Customs compliant” means for contractors to boost income.
As previously reported by Computer Weekly, the government set out plans in the Autumn Budget 2024 to commission an independent review of the policy to “help bring the matter to a close for those affected, whilst ensuring fairness for all taxpayers”. This was the second independent review carried out into the policy, with former HMRC assistant director Ray McCann appointed by HM Treasury to oversee the process, starting with a call for evidence in March 2025.
On the same day as the Autumn Budget 2025 took place, the content of McCann’s review was published, where he made nine recommendations that he said would “create a means whereby everyone who wants to settle their tax position through agreement with HMRC, can settle”.
As stated in the McCann review: “Its method, as part of a structured approach to settlement, is to use a series of standard adjustments to suspend a portion of an individual’s current liability which, if the terms of the suspension and payment plan are met, would in time be written off.”
This approach is, he continued, intended to incentivise people to reach a settlement with HMRC and deter them from any further involvement in tax avoidance schemes.
“The review recommends a new approach to settlement which suspends (subject to conditions) part of the overall tax owed to make allowance for the proportion of the income taken by the [loan scheme] promoters and further suspends part of the overall liability equivalent to late payment interest and penalties,” said the McCann review.
Some of the McCann review’s recommendations include:
- Individuals work with HMRC to agree a reduced settlement amount, with the difference to their current Loan Charge liability suspended and eventually written off provided the terms of the suspension are met.
- Late payment interest on outstanding Loan Charge settlements should be suspended, and so should up to 10% of the gross scheme income per tax year to account for fees paid.
- Payment plans of up to five years should be offered by HMRC by default, but HMRC also has the option to approve repayment plans of 10 years.
In its response to McCann’s review, the government said it “accepts all but one” of McCann’s recommendations, and “in several cases, will go further” by offering to write off the first £5,000 of each individual’s outstanding Loan Charge liabilities.
The one recommendation in McCann’s report that the government said it would not carry forward says the time to repay Loan Charge settlements can be extended by up to 10 years, with HMRC’s approval. This recommendation further states that if the person is unable to settle their liabilities within this timeframe “as a backstop – the remainder could be suspended”.
In response, the government said it would be willing to give those in scope of the policy longer than 10 years to settle their liabilities, but does not accept the recommendation that the remaining liabilities should be suspended if people cannot pay within 10 years.
“The government believes that this recommendation would lead to unnecessary, potentially protracted, engagement between HMRC and taxpayers over payment plans and would not support the objective to draw a line under the issue,” said the government response. “However, the government commits to ensuring the existing process for taxpayers who cannot afford to pay is made clearer.”
Overall, the settlement recommendations put forward by McCann would “substantially reduce the outstanding liabilities of those yet to settle with HMRC”, said the government, in its response, adding: “Most individuals could see reductions of at least 50% in their outstanding loan charge liabilities, and an estimated 30% of individuals could have these liabilities written off entirely.”
It also stated that it would push through legislation in the forthcoming Finance Bill to allow McCann’s recommendations to be put in force.
However, despite the positive impact the government said the settlement reforms will have on those in scope of the Loan Charge, a group of cross-party MPs – operating as the Loan Charge and Taxpayer Fairness All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) – have hit out at the contents of McCann’s review, describing its recommendations as “discriminatory and unfair”.
Greg Smith, co-chair of the Loan Charge and Taxpayer Fairness APPG, said the review also fails to “adequately recognise the industrial mis-selling” that contributed to so many people falling foul of the policy in the first place.
“The chancellor [Rachel Reeves] herself acknowledged last year that instead of pursuing victims of mis-selling, HMRC should go after the perpetrators. Yet instead, the government then commissioned a highly restricted review that didn’t even consider this,” said Smith.
“While concessions are a step forward and will help some of those involved, it will not end the nightmare for others and it fails to hold HMRC to account for its clear failures and its decision to discriminate so ruthlessly against people shown to be victims of mis-selling, which has led to 10, possibly now 11 suicides.”
Smith added: “There still needs to be a proper independent inquiry, which unlike the McCann Review, must actually be independent of HMRC and not led by someone who used to work there”.
Meanwhile, campaigners from the Loan Charge Action Group (LCAG) also outlined their disappointment at the contents of the review, which they described as being too narrow in scope and “clearly not independent” due to McCann’s former role working for HMRC.
LCAG spokesperson Steve Packham said the recommendations will help to reduce the size of the liabilities people are facing, but will not resolve the “thousands of cases” that remain open for a long time to come.
“There are many people [in scope of the Loan Charge] who now have lost income due to Covid, IR35 changes and the mental distress caused by the Loan Charge. There are many people who will still face unaffordable bills, which is likely to mean further bankruptcies and more distress,” he said.
“Despite the fact ministers have acknowledged that those affected are victims of mis-selling, the report does nothing to pursue the perpetrators of the industrial mis-selling – including chartered accountants, recruitment agencies and scheme promoters. This is despite Rachel Reeves herself calling for HMRC to pursue the perpetrators, not the victims, just last year.
“The review also excludes those who were pushed to settle under duress from HMRC, which means they will have ended up paying more than those who didn’t, which is grossly unfair when HMRC told them to settle and threatened them with far greater demands if they did not. There still needs to be a proper and genuinely independent inquiry into the whole thing. Only that can resolve the Loan Charge scandal and expose the truth about this whole fiasco.”
Tech
Every Model of this New Snoopy MoonSwatch Is Different—And You Can Only Get One When It Snows
First a confession: I own more MoonSwatches than I care to admit. Never let it be said that WIRED does not walk the walk when it comes to recommending products—Swatch has assiduously extracted a considerable amount of cash from me, all in $285 increments. This was no doubt the Swiss company’s dastardly plan all along, to lure us in, then, oh so gently, get watch fans hooked. The horological equivalent of boiling a frog. It’s worked, too—Swatch has, so far, netted hundreds of millions of dollars from MoonSwatch sales.
But while I’ve been a fan of the Omega X Swatch mashup since we reported on exactly how the hugely lucrative collaboration came to be in the first place, I have never liked the iterative Moonshine Gold versions. Employing a sliver of Omega’s exclusive 18K pale yellow gold alloy in marginally different ways on each design, they seemed almost cynical—a way of milking the MoonSwatch superfans on the hunt to complete the set.
Now, though, just when I thought I was done with MoonSwatch—having gone as far as to upgrade all of mine with official $45 color-matching rubber straps—Swatch has managed to ensnare me once again, and with a Moonshine Gold model: the new MoonSwatch Mission To Earthphase Moonshine Gold Cold Moon.
Clumsy moniker aside, this version takes the all-white 2024 Snoopy model (WIRED’s top pick of the entire collection), mixes it with the Earthphase MoonSwatches, and replaces the inferior original strap for a superior white and blue Swatch rubber velcro one. Aesthetically, it’s definitely a win, but this is not the Cold Moon’s party trick.
On each $450 Cold Moon MoonSwatch, a snowflake is lasered onto its Moonshine Gold moon phase indicator—and, just like a real snowflake, Swatch claims each one will be completely unique. When you consider the volumes of MoonSwatches Swatch produces each year, this is no mean feat.
Tech
These Are the Best Tech Deals to Shop This Cyber Monday
Welcome to WIRED’s guide to the best Cyber Monday tech deals, where we can promise you two things: these devices are worth buying (we’ve tested and recommended every one of them), and these are actual discounts (not the year-round price). So, whether you need an upgrade, want to treat yourself, or are seeking a great gift, we have you covered.
Want a wider range of deals? Check out the Absolute Best Black Friday Deals roundup to find more bargains this sale weekend.
Updated November 30: We’ve added deals on Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 and Galaxy Z Flip7, Galaxy S25, S25+, S25 Ultra, Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus, Apple AirPods Pro 2, and Apple Watch SE 3.
The Google Pixel 10 is one of the best Android phones you can buy. Easy to recommend at full price, the Pixel 10 is an absolute bargain with this discount. You get an excellent triple-camera system with a 5X optical zoom sensor, support for Qi2 wireless charging, so you can magnetically attach to wireless chargers and docks, and Google’s super smart software features (Call Screen to filter out spam calls is our favorite). Learn more in the Best Pixel Phones guide.
The Pixel 9a is our top smartphone choice for most people, and it’s now $50 cheaper than it was on Black Friday itself. At $349, you’re getting a smooth-performing smartphone with a reliable dual-camera system that’s unmatched at this price, not to mention day-long battery life and a completely flat camera lens system for anyone who hates giant camera bumps. Oh, and it’ll get 7 years of software updates.
Sony’s A7 IV is the best mirrorless camera on the market (for most people). It’s a 33-megapixel, full-frame camera with a brilliant autofocus system, impressive dynamic range, and crisp images. There’s an expansive range of 4K video options as well, along with customizable buttons to set up your preferences, so you don’t have to always rummage through the menus. Reviewer Scott Gilbertson found the grip to be super comfortable and the camera to be light enough to endure for long periods without any back strain. —Boutayna Chokrane
If you’re shopping for open earbuds so that you can enjoy your music but still be aware of your surroundings, the Soundcore Aeroclip is the best we’ve tested so far. Reviewer Ryan Waniata praises the comfort, sound quality, usability, and value. The sound is wide and balanced, and the built-in controls are ideal for runs. Waniata likes to use them during outdoor activities, like hiking or biking, but he finds them especially helpful when he’s cooking dinner and needs to stay alert for his newborn’s cries. —Boutayna Chokrane
Editor Adrienne So says the Fitbit Ace LTE is the first fitness tracker she’s gotten her kids to use. It’s a fitness tracker (designed with Fitbit’s health sensors), gaming device, and location tracker. The $10/monthly subscription includes both LTE connectivity and Fitbit Arcade, which has a variety of movement-based games that get children on their feet and incentivize them to keep their watches on. They can call and text their guardians (and other approved contacts) through the Fitbit Ace app, and their location is trackable via Google Find My. —Boutayna Chokrane
This is a rare and tasty deal on my favorite Xmas lights. They work indoors or out, can be scheduled, and support a bunch of lovely animated effects. While I’m mentioning Philips Hue and its excellent but horribly expensive wares, you might want to check out some of its other Cyber Monday deals. My picks would be the wall washers ($316), TV lightstrip ($129), and HDMI sync box ($270).
The Asus RT-BE58U is perhaps the ideal Wi-Fi 7 upgrade for modest homes and apartments still struggling with the crappy router their internet service provider sent, and that’s why it tops our Best Wi-Fi Routers guide. It’s easy to set up and use, can cover up to 2,000 square feet, and boasts plenty of ports. As a dual-band router, it lacks the 6-GHz band, but has all the other advantages of Wi-Fi 7. There’s also support for VPN service, separate IoT or guest networks, and Ai Mesh.
Don’t ask me why they keep taking our ports away. God forbid you should want to plug something into your laptop. Well, you can stick it to those minimalist designers with the best laptop docking station. This one doubles as a wedge to prop your laptop up and has a storage slot.
These wireless noise-canceling headphones may not be the latest release from Sony, but they are still an excellent pair of cans with a far deeper discount. The Sony WH-1000XM5 are relatively light and comfortable, producing accomplished sound in every scenario, and have great control options.
You can spend a lot on a TV, but you can also get a great screen without breaking the bank, and the TCL QM6K proves it. This is the best TV for most people right now as it offers excellent color and processing, all the apps you want, and great performance, even in bright rooms. There are discounts across the range of screen sizes.
If you want to get the latest streaming apps on an older TV, the Roku Streaming Stick Plus is for you. It’s easy to set up, works reliably, and has a handy voice remote that makes finding content easier than ever. It slots neatly behind most TVs, and Roku’s interface is nice and clear.
Apple doesn’t really do sales, but other retailers do. This is the lowest price we’ve seen on a solid iPad the whole family can enjoy. The Apple iPad (A16, 2025) performs great for most tasks, looks pretty nice, and has a 12-megapixel camera. It is honestly all the iPad most folks need for surfing the web and streaming shows in bed. With iPadOS 26 and the new windowing apps feature, you can even comfortably do some work if you pair it with a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse.
Handy as they are for keeping you connected when your phone dies unexpectedly, portable chargers can be very same-y. The reason the Nimble Champ tops our Best Power Banks guide is Nimble’s focus on the environment. It’s made from 90 percent certified recycled plastic and comes in fully biodegradable packaging. It also works well, with capacities starting from 5,200 mAh, with USB-A and USB-C ports, and up to 15-watt charging.
Yes, you should read more, and Amazon’s Kindle e-readers make it easier to do exactly that. Our current favorite is the Kindle Paperwhite (12th generation). It has a sharp 7-inch display, auto-adjusting warm light, three-month battery life, snappy performance, and it’s slim and light, making it comfortable to hold. It even has integration with Overdrive for your library books and support for several languages.
The reMarkable 2 is one of the best digital notebooks, offering a paperlike writing experience, intuitive software, and several weeks of battery life. This is a budget model, so it lacks front light and color, but it’s still a decent device. Bundles where you choose both a marker and folio are heavily discounted right now, and they’re not often on sale, so it’s a good time to snap one up.
Keychron boards are popular here at WIRED, and the Q6 HE is our current pick of the best mechanical keyboards. Sturdy, satisfying to type on, with a lovely retro aesthetic, what more do you need? Well, the Q6 HE also boasts hot-swappable Hall Effect switches, four macro keys, and is relatively easy to customize or repair.
The great thing about Nomad’s 65-watt charger is that it’s incredibly slim, with flip-out prongs, so it can slip easily into small pockets in your bag or purse. You get dual USB-C ports, and can pull 45 watts out of the left port and 20 out of the right. Or, if you’re just charging one device, the full 65 watts is enough for any phone, most tablets, and even some MacBooks or Windows laptops (though they may not charge at top speed).
You know what I don’t miss in the slightest? Mowing the lawn. A good robot mower, like this relatively affordable one from newcomer Anthbot, will do it for you, quietly. No wire required; it recharges itself, you just set a schedule and relax. OK, it sometimes leaves a verge, but the only model I’ve tried that doesn’t is more than twice the price.
Sharp 2K video, color night vision, a wide 160-degree field of view, and clear two-way audio make the Arlo Pro 5S easy to recommend for folks seeking a security camera. You also get AI recognition for people and pets, a siren to scare intruders, and the quick-loading Arlo app. But you need Arlo Secure ($8 per month for one camera or $13 per month for unlimited cameras) for subject recognition, smart alerts, and cloud storage. The Arlo Pro 5S is our pick of the best outdoor security cameras.
I love my Oura Ring 4. It accurately tracks my sleep, activity, and stress levels and offers insights that I find genuinely useful. It’s also very comfortable, the app is super slick, with new features being added all the time, and it’s far less obtrusive than any other kind of tracker you could wear. The catch is a subscription, but this is still the best of the best smart rings.
It’s the thoughtful design that elevates the Backbone One above the rest of the best mobile controllers. Slot your phone into the compact cradle, with a USB-C jack for speedy connectivity, and you get satisfyingly clicky and responsive controls plus a 3.5-mm headphone port. You can also customize it for different games, or even use Backbone’s software as a one-stop gaming hub, if you’re willing to pay a subscription.
Yes, there is a new version of the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarers, but the good news is that the old pair is now on sale. If you can stomach Meta AI’s privacy policies, there’s a strong argument that it has won the smart glasses race already (at least, so far). The best smart glasses must be easy to wear, and these look great and help offload things from your phone, so you don’t have to dip into that pocket quite as much.
The JBL Flip 7 is the Bluetooth speaker that has it all. It’s durable, it has stamina, it produces a punchy sound, and it comes in fun colors. As the best Bluetooth speaker you can buy, this deal is for real.
Toniebox is our favorite speaker for young kids, particularly ages three through seven. It’s essentially a squishy cube that plays stories and songs tied to different characters (aka Tonies). It’s activated when your child places the figurine on top of the speaker. There are so many Tonies to choose from. Peppa Pig, Moana, Winnie the Pooh, the list goes on. You can also buy Creative Tonies to record your own audio. Super easy to use, and the cutesy ears double as volume controls. —Boutayna Chokrane
The best tech books unpack the rise and fall of the characters that invented the stuff that runs our lives. The New York Times and former Wall Street Journal reporter John Carreyrou writes about Elizabeth Holmes, as she miserably fails to build a blood testing machine that would allegedly eliminate the need for hypodermic needles. Her company raised hundreds of millions of dollars, but its technology was inaccurate. Rather than admit defeat, she pressed on, which is why Holmes was put on trial for fraud and sentenced to 11 years in prison. —Boutayna Chokrane
Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S25 has been heavily discounted all Cyber Weekend, probably because its successors are right around the corner (the Galaxy S26 series is expected to be announced in January). But we still love these excellent smartphones. The S25 is the smallest, the S25+ gets a few extra perks, plus a bigger screen and better battery life, and the Galaxy S25 Ultra has a dual telephoto camera system, integrated S Pen stylus, and a beefy battery. Be sure to check out the Best Samsung Phones guide for the full scoop. —Molly Higgins
You’re not like other girls; you have a folding phone. In all seriousness, folding phones are not as fragile as they used to be, with durability improving while remaining slim. We love the Galaxy Z Fold7 because it’s amazingly slim and versatile. You can use the front screen like normal, and when you need extra real estate, open the device up. You can view apps on a much larger scale or easily split-screen two apps. If you’re not feeling a folding phone, the updated Galaxy Z Flip7 has a more usable front screen. Read our Best Folding Phones guide to decide which is best for you at the discounted price this Cyber Weekend. —Molly Higgins
The Lenovo Flex 5i Chromebook Plus is super cheap and compact, with a small touchscreen for more versatility. Especially with the Cyber Monday discount, it’s one of the most affordable Chromebook Plus models you can find, plus WIRED reviewer Luke Larsen thinks it’s in a whole different league over standard Chromebooks at this price because of its improved screen with a 360-degree hinge and touchscreen, fast performance, more storage, and crisp webcam. —Molly Higgins
Even though they’re an older model, we like these AirPods because of their hearing aid feature, comfort, and outstanding streaming experience. If you’re an iPhone user, you should have some AirPods, and we still think these are a good choice for most people because of their active noise cancellation, sound quality, and easy pairing within the Apple ecosystem. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they’re nearly 25 percent off for Cyber Monday. —Molly Higgins
We on the WIRED Reviews team still think this is the best Apple Watch for most people. With its newest upgrade, it now has the latest S10 chip, a Liquid Glass display, Workout Buddy, and wrist-flick gestures. If you have an iPhone, this accessory is a no-brainer. It makes a great gift for yourself or others, and is seriously discounted at only $200 right now. —Molly Higgins
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Tech
Dreaming of a Thuma Bed Frame? Don’t Miss the Black Friday Sale
Thuma knows what it’s doing when it comes to bed frames, which is why we’re so excited to see Thuma’s Black Friday deals. Two different frames from Thuma are the top picks in our Best Bed Frames guide, and our reviewers have reported how not only high-quality and and sturdy the brand’s frames are, but also how easy it is to put the frame together thanks to Japanese-style joinery.
While our top pick isn’t on sale, our second-favorite is on Thuma’s site during this Black Friday weekend, and it’s a great price for the quality you’ll get. And it’s not the only thing Thuma has on sale, either, if you’re looking for more Thuma goodness around your bedroom and home.
If you’re looking for more great sleep deals, don’t miss our guide to the Best Black Friday Mattress and Bedding Deals, plus you can catch more sleep deals on our guide to the Absolute Best Black Friday Deals.
The Best Thuma Bed Frame Deal
Thuma’s Signature Bed is one of our all-time favorite bed frames. It’s on the new side, launching back in February as Thuma’s first upholstered bed. It still uses Japanese wood joinery, but the frame is covered in two different fabric options, depending on what you choose. There’s a soft Italian felted wool and a performance linen; our reviewer tested the wool version for a few months with great results.
Even with the fabric covering, it still only takes minutes to assemble this bed, and there’s not a squeak to be heard since it was built. WIRED reviewer Martin Cizmar says the plush headboard feels pillow-soft, so much so that he’s tempted to try to lie directly on it. The frame can come with or without a headboard, and both variants are on sale right now.
If it’s still out of your budget, check out our guide to the Best Thuma Dupes to see if any on-sale options are a fit for you. But there’s really no better time to get a Thuma frame of your own than during this sale, especially since we’re such big fans of this model.
More Thuma Deals
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