Monday 18 February 2019

What's so special about 5th April?

Why do we have a tax year which ends on 5th April, with the next one starting on 6th April? It's unusual and it goes back to Roman times.

The Roman year finished in March. That's the original reason why tax is collected in the Spring. A big tax expert tells me this gives a new meaning to "beware the Ides of March".

In medieval times rents and debts fell due on Quarter Days: Lady Day on 25th March, Midsummer in June, Michaelmas in September and Christmas Day.

Lady Day, marking Mary being told she would give birth to Jesus, was the big one, partly because it coincided with Roman tradition. A lot of legal agreements started then.

Oops! But the actual calendar was wrong. The year was ever so slightly the wrong length. So in 1752 the UK adopted the more precise Gregorian Calendar.

Taking the Gregorian route meant adding 11 days to the date. And the start of the tax year was moved to 5th April, then later to 6th April.

Why move the tax year? Well, the government still wanted to get a full year of tax out of the public, of course. That meant a later start.

So the financial year has started on 6th April ever since, unlike US, France, Germany (1st Jan), Australia (1st July) and some countries which use 1st April.

Wednesday 23 January 2019

Santander branches closing




Branch
Address
Branch closure date
Aberdeen George Street
99 George Street, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, AB25 1HU
7 November 2019
Acton
156 High Street, Acton, London, W3 6RF
27 June 2019
Aldershot
103 High Street, Aldershot, Hampshire, GU11 1BY
16 May 2019
Alloa
69 Mill Street, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, FK10 1DX
6 June 2019
Amersham
51 Sycamore Road, Amersham, Buckinghamshire, HP6 5EQ
20 June 2019
Ammanford
2 Quay Street, Ammanford, Dyfed, SA18 3DB
30 May 2019
Antrim
46 High Street, Antrim, County Antrim, BT41 4BX
30 May 2019
Axminster
West Street, Axminster, Devon, EX13 5NU
2 May 2019
Aylsham
1 Red Lion Street, Aylsham, Norfolk, NR11 6ER
4 July 2019
Ballymoney
16 Church Street, Ballymoney, County Antrim, BT53 6DL
16 May 2019
Bathgate George Street
14 George Street, Bathgate, West Lothian, EH48 1PW
25 April 2019
Belfast Newtownards Road
423-425 Newtownards Road, Belfast, County Antrim, BT4 1AT
20 June 2019
Berkhamsted
230 High Street, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, HP4 1BP
20 June 2019
Bideford
16 The Quay, Bideford, Devon, EX39 2EB
25 April 2019
Birmingham New Street
69 New Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B2 4DU
25 July 2019
Birmingham Acocks Green
1109 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, West Midlands, B27 6RA
2 May 2019
Birstall
661 Loughborough Road, Birstall, Leicestershire, LE4 4NL
27 June 2019
Boscombe Christchurch Road
630 Christchurch Road, Boscombe, Dorset, BH1 4BP
13 June 2019
Brechin
24 St David Street, Brechin, Angus, DD9 6EQ
9 May 2019
Brixham
14 Fore Street, Brixham, Devon, TQ5 8JJ
30 May 2019
Broadstone
214 Lower Blandford Road, Broadstone, Dorset, BH18 8DX
9 May 2019
Burnley Briercliffe Road
Briercliffe Road, Burnley, Lancashire, BB10 1UR
27 June 2019
Buxton
73 Spring Gardens, Buxton, Derbyshire, SK17 6DN
27 June 2019
Chandlers Ford
1 & 2 The Mall, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, SO53 2QD
11 July 2019
Cheam
8 The Broadway, Cheam, Surrey, SM3 8AY
6 June 2019
Clapham High Street
164 Clapham High Street, Clapham, London, SW4 7TZ
2 May 2019
Cleethorpes
43 St Peters Avenue, Cleethorpes, South Humberside, DN35 8JQ
4 July 2019
Clitheroe
1 Castle Street, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 2BT
25 April 2019
Coalville
14 Belvoir Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3PE
11 July 2019
Cockermouth
9 Station Street, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 9QW
2 May 2019
Cockfosters
10 Station Parade, Cockfosters, Hertfordshire, EN4 0DL
16 May 2019
Colchester Culver Street West
23 Culver Street West, Colchester, Essex, CO1 1JG
7 November 2019
Corby
3 Spencer Court, Corby, Northamptonshire, NN17 1NU
25 April 2019
Coventry High Street
29 High Street, Waters Court, Coventry, Warwickshire, CV1 5RE
7 November 2019
Crosby
84 Coronation Road, Crosby, Merseyside, L23 5RH
13 June 2019
Crouch End
5 The Broadway, Crouch End, London, N8 8DS
4 July 2019
Devizes
4 St Johns Street, Devizes, Wiltshire, SN10 1BP
16 May 2019
Didcot
146 Broadway, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 8SH
4 July 2019
Dorchester
3 Cornhill, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1BA
27 June 2019
Dorking
22 South Street, Dorking, Surrey, RH4 2QW
18 July 2019
Driffield
49 Market Place, Driffield, East Yorkshire, YO25 6AW
30 May 2019
East Sheen
347 Upper Richmond Road West, East Sheen, London, SW14 8RH
25 July 2019
Eastcote
137 Field End Road, Eastcote, Middlesex, HA5 1QN
25 April 2019
Edinburgh Leith Walk
15-21 Leith Walk, Edinburgh, Lothian, EH6 8LN
9 May 2019
Edinburgh 194-196 Morningside Road
194-196 Morningside Road, Edinburgh, Lothian, EH10 4TD
12 December 2019
Egham
45 High Street, Egham, Surrey, TW20 9DP
30 May 2019
Epping
273-275 High Street, Epping, Essex, CM16 4DP
6 June 2019
Esher
41-43 High Street, Esher, Surrey, KT10 9SQ
27 June 2019
Feltham
32-34 The Centre, Feltham, Middlesex, TW13 4AU
11 July 2019
Fleetwood
76 Lord Street, Fleetwood, Lancashire, FY7 6UN
27 June 2019
Forfar
83 Castle Street, Forfar, Angus, DD8 3AG
25 July 2019
Four Oaks
290 Lichfield Road, Four Oaks, West Midlands, B74 2UG
9 May 2019
Gainsborough
11-13 Market Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2BL
13 June 2019
Gerrards Cross
75 Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, SL9 8QP
23 May 2019
Glasgow Forge Shopping Centre
Forge Shopping Centre, Gallowgate, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, G31 4EB
27 June 2019
Glasgow Springburn Shopping Centre
Springburn Shopping Centre, Springburn Way, Glasgow, Lanarkshire G21 1TP
20 June 2019
Godalming
104 High Street, Godalming, Surrey, GU7 1HG
6 June 2019
Goole
31 Boothferry Road, Goole, East Yorkshire, DN14 5DE
13 June 2019
Gracechurch Street
51-54 Gracechurch Street, London City, London, EC3V 0EH
25 April 2019
Guildford High Street
166 High Street, Guildford, Surrey GU1 3HR
12 December 2019
Hadleigh
253 London Road, Hadleigh, Essex, SS7 2RF
23 May 2019
Haslemere
93e Weyhill, Haslemere, Surrey, GU27 1HS
25 April 2019
Havant
7d West Street, Havant, Hampshire, PO9 1EH
25 July 2019
Heathfield
56 High Street, Heathfield, East Sussex, TN21 8JQ
13 June 2019
Helensburgh
1-3 West Princess Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, G84 8TW
25 April 2019
Henley-On-Thames
18 Duke Street, Henley-On-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 1UT
30 May 2019
Holt
29 Market Place, Holt, Norfolk, NR25 6BE
13 June 2019
Hythe
63 High Street, Hythe, Kent, CT21 5AJ
6 June 2019
Keynsham
67 High Street, Keynsham, Avon, BS31 1DL
4 July 2019
Kingswinford
1 Moss Grove, Kingswinford, West Midlands, DY6 9HS
6 June 2019
Kirkcaldy High Street
133 High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, KY1 1LR
13 June 2019
Knutsford
39-41 Princess Street, Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 6BW
6 June 2019
Lanark
112 High Street, Lanark, Lanarkshire, ML11 7ES
4 July 2019
Leather Lane
10a Leather Lane, High Holborn, London, EC1N 7YH
12 December 2019
Leeds Street Lane
77 Street Lane, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS8 1BN
4 July 2019
Leicester Evington Road
136 Evington Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE2 1HL
13 June 2019
Leicester Uppingham Road
265 Uppingham Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE5 4DG
9 May 2019
Liverpool Church Street
84 Church Street, Liverpool, Merseyside, L1 3AY
7 November 2019
Llangefni
14 High Street, Llangefni, Gwynedd, LL77 7YZ
4 July 2019
Ludgate Circus
11 Ludgate Circus, Ludgate Circus, London, EC4M 7LQ
27 June 2019
Lymington
96 High Street, Lymington, Hampshire, SO41 9AP
25 July 2019
Manchester Cross Street
28/34 Cross Street, Manchester, Greater Manchester, M2 7AQ
5 December 2019
Marylebone High Street
27 Marylebone High Street, Central London, London, W1U 4AD
16 May 2019
Middleton
Colmar House, Manchester New Road, Middleton, Greater Manchester, M24 4DB
25 July 2019
Monmouth
28 Agincourt Square, Monmouth, Monmouthshire, NP25 3BT
30 May 2019
Morden
52 London Road, Morden, Surrey, SM4 5DL
9 May 2019
Newmarket
104 High Street, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 8JQ
30 May 2019
North Shields
103 Bedford Street, North Shields, Tyne & Wear, NE29 6PQ
9 May 2019
Northwood
42/44 Green Lane, Northwood, Middlesex, HA6 2QB
16 May 2019
Norwich St Stephens Street
28 St Stephens Street, Norwich, Norfolk, NR1 3SH
12 December 2019
Nottingham 2 Clumber Street
2 Clumber Street, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, NG1 3GA
12 December 2019
Oakham
6/8 Market Place, Oakham, Leicestershire, LE15 6DT
25 April 2019
Otley
15-17 Kirkgate, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 3HN
16 May 2019
Oxted
135 Station Road East, Oxted, Surrey, RH8 0QD
16 May 2019
Parkstone
213 Ashley Road, Parkstone, Dorset, BH14 9EG
18 July 2019
Pembroke
15 Main Street, Pembroke, Dyfed, SA71 4JS
9 May 2019
Penarth
4-4a Windsor Road, Penarth, South Glamorgan, CF64 1JH
2 May 2019
Plymouth New George Street
78 New George Street, Plymouth, Devon, PL1 1EF
5 December 2019
Portobello Road
174 Portobello Road, Notting Hill, London, W11 2EB
25 July 2019
Portslade
34 Station Road, Portslade, East Sussex, BN41 1HR
23 May 2019
Purley
938 Brighton Road, Purley, Surrey, CR8 2LP
20 June 2019
Queensway
170 Queensway, Queensway, London, W2 6NT
25 April 2019
Ramsbottom
29 Bolton Street, Ramsbottom, Lancashire, BL0 9HU
20 June 2019
Rayners Lane
412-414 Rayners Lane, Rayners Lane, Harrow, Middlesex, HA5 5HA
4 July 2019
Reigate
26 High Street, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 9AZ
13 June 2019
Renfrew
7 High Street, Renfrew, Renfrewshire, PA4 8HY
18 July 2019
Ripon
15 Fishergate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, HG4 1EA
6 June 2019
Romsey
14 Market Place, Romsey, Hampshire, SO51 8QS
18 July 2019
Ryde
34 High Street, Ryde, Isle Of Wight, PO33 2HL
6 June 2019
Selby Market Cross
22 Market Cross Shopping Centre, Selby, North Yorkshire, YO8 4JS
16 May 2019
Selsdon
174 Addington Road, Selsdon, Surrey, CR2 8YL
25 July 2019
Shoreham
35-37 High Street, Shoreham By Sea, West Sussex, BN43 5DD
2 May 2019
Shrewsbury High Street
20 High Street, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1SJ
5 December 2019
Sidmouth
Fore Street, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8HU
20 June 2019
Skipton High Street
67 High Street, Skipton, North Yorkshire, BD23 1DS
18 July 2019
South Woodham Ferrers
12-14 Chandlers Way, South Woodham Ferrers, Essex, CM3 5TA
2 May 2019
Southend High Street
27 High Street, Southend-On-Sea, Essex, SS1 1JD
7 November 2019
St Andrews
145 Market Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9PZ
2 May 2019
Stanmore
17 Church Road, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4BW
2 May 2019
Stowmarket
16 Market Place, Stowmarket, Suffolk, IP14 1DP
25 July 2019
Swiss Cottage
8 Harben Parade, Finchley Road, Swiss Cottage, London, NW3 6JP
9 May 2019
Tavistock
49 Brook Street, Tavistock, Devon, PL19 0BJ
23 May 2019
Tonypandy
121 Dunraven Street, Tonypandy, Mid Glamorgan, CF40 1AS
11 July 2019
Totnes
58/60 Fore Street, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5RU
27 June 2019
Troon
17 Portland Street, Troon, Ayrshire, KA10 6AZ
18 July 2019
Ulverston
17 New Market Street, Ulverston, Cumbria, LA12 7LQ
30 May 2019
Upminster
21 Corbets Tey Road, Upminster, Essex, RM14 2JS
13 June 2019
Wandsworth
127-129 High Street, Wandsworth, London, SW18 4JB
30 May 2019
Ware
55 High Street, Ware, Hertfordshire, SG12 9BA
11 July 2019
Watford Harlequin Centre
15-17 Queens Road, The Harlequin Centre, Watford, Hertfordshire, WD17 2LJ
7 November 2019
Wealdstone
25 High Street, Wealdstone, Harrow, Middlesex, HA3 5DJ
20 June 2019
West Ealing
114 The Broadway, West Ealing, London, W13 0SY
9 May 2019
West Kirby
32 Grange Road, West Kirby, Merseyside, CH48 4HS
20 June 2019
Wetherby
41 High Street, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, LS22 6LR
16 May 2019
Windermere
8 Crescent Road, Windermere, Cumbria, LA23 1EA
23 May 2019
Wisbech
39 Market Place, Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, PE13 1DP
2 May 2019
Woodley
107 Crockhamwell Road, Woodley, Berkshire, RG5 3SL
4 July 2019
Worcester Park
101 Central Road, Worcester Park, Surrey, KT4 8DP
20 June 2019
Workington
60 Pow Street, Workington, Cumbria, CA14 3AB
6 June 2019
Yeadon
25 High Street, Yeadon, West Yorkshire, LS19 7SP
25 July 2019