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Relieved: Rosie Gregory welcomed the scrapping of a rise in fuel tax With no economic growth this year and predictions that 2013 will be little better, the Chancellor had little choice but to turn the screw. There was some good news in George Osborne’s Autumn Statement, however, despite the missed debt-reduction targets, with a surprise income tax cut and a welcome reprieve for motorists. There was also recognition of the plight of those on drawdown pensions who have seen their income cut – an issue brought to his attention by Financial Mail’s campaigning on the scandal in  the past couple of months. But every giveaway had to be balanced with a clawback as the Chancellor nibbled away at  the value of benefit payments and launched yet another raid on pensions. Financial Mail sets out the winners and losers from tax, benefit and spending changes that will take the Coalition up to the next  General Election. Income tax More than 20 million taxpayers will see a modest cut in their in

From Monday a child benefit shake up, which means those earning over £50,000 will have at least some of their payments removed, will affect more than 1.2million families. Yet, despite a government push to explain the complicated and controversial plans, it is thought that a third of those families might still be in the dark regarding the changes. Are you affected? And if so, what are your options? We explain. All change: Child benefit changes will affect 1.2 million families - but what should you do? What’s happening? Technically no one is having child benefit payments removed, but the changes mean that some people will end up having them taken back through tax and so may no longer wish to receive them. From 7 January the partner with the highest income will face an extra tax charge to take back child benefit, depending on how much they earn. If their income is £60,000 or more, the tax charge will be the same as any child benefit received– effectively cancelling it out. However

Almost a million taxpayers have failed to file their self-assessment tax returns and will now be hit with a £100 fine. HM Revenue and Customs has revealed it will be issuing around 850,000 late filing penalties to taxpayers who did not meet the January 31 deadline for online personal tax returns for 2011/12. And for most of these the punishment will get even harsher. Some 790,000 had still not filed their return between February 1 and 15, who will now start accruing daily fines of £10. In the mail: HMRC coffers will be boosted to the tune of £85million as £100 fines are sent out to the 850,000 taxpayers who did not return their self-assessment forms on time. A HMRC spokesman said: 'Anyone who hasn’t yet sent their 2011-12 tax return to HMRC will have already incurred a £100 late-filing penalty. 'To avoid any further penalties, they should send their return as soon as possible, as well as paying any outstanding tax due for the 2011-12 tax year.' Those who filed their

  Charities, like businesses and households, are feeling the pinch, but the sector is suffering from a double whammy - not only have their incomes collapsed but demand for their services is greater than ever. Race for life: Georgie Battye and Ben Pilling hope to raise £10,000 for the charity that has helped her sister But there is one easy way to boost charities' incomes - ask that nice taxman. Charities lose out on millions of pounds each year because 40% of donors forget to declare they are taxpayers when making a gift. Charitable donations by UK taxpayers can be boosted by tax relief at 28% - known as Gift Aid. But if the charity is to benefit, those giving money must make a Gift Aid declaration. Joanna Barnett, executive director at virginmoneygiving.com, the official sponsorship website for the London Marathon, says: 'Charity funding is under severe pressure as donors cut back in the recession. 'It makes it all the more depressing that Gift Aid is not de

  They have devoted almost all their time and energy to building up fortunes worth billions. And now they are going to give most of it away. Warren Buffett: The World's third richest man is among those donating. In the biggest charity donation in history, 40 American billionaires have pledged to give at least half of their money to good causes. Star Wars director George Lucas, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Hilton hotels owner Barron Hilton are among those who will provide an estimated £250bn. Others pledging fortunes include media mogul Ted Turner, fashion director Diane Von Furstenberg, David Rockefeller, the heir to the Rockefeller fortune, and construction billionaire Eli Broad. The unprecedented commitment was brokered by Microsoft founder Bill Gates and investor Warren Buffett over a series of intimate dinners. They set up The Giving Pledge, which asks billionaires to make a 'moral commitment' to give away at least 50% of their wealth to charity

  Tens of millions of pounds donated to charities every year by the public through 'chuggers' seldom get further than private fundraising companies, an investigation has revealed. Unjust cause: Collection companies often recieve more than charities. Charities pay huge sums to firms that employ so-called 'charity muggers' who stop people in the street and try to persuade them to donate by direct debit. But the charities often don't see a penny of this donated money because the 'chugging' firm charges are so high. Last year, 750,000 people signed on the dotted line, giving an average contribution of £90 a year. But a BBC investigation has found the charities are often paying the companies, in effect, £100 or more for each signature they collect - meaning in many cases the company is paid more than the charity will raise from that donor in the first year. And many of those signed up by these sub-contractors do not complete 12 months of donations.

  Doing a marathon for charity this weekend? your first 1.3 miles could be in aid of a lucrative company - and not your favourite cause... Anne Marie Huby: 'People have a tendency to believe that charities are run on thin air but the cost of fundraising is really high'. From the fun-runners in fancy dress for the Great Gorilla Run in the City of London to the slightly more serious participants in the Dumfries and Windsor half-marathons, thousands of Brits were today happily raising money for charity. Many will have used fundraising sites because they are so simple - you input your details to make your own page, saying what you will do to raise money, and then invite everyone you know to donate by sending them an email. You can link to your Facebook page and even set up an automated 'thank-you' email to everyone who donates. You will get an alert every time someone gives money, you can keep track of your total, read encouraging messages and avoid having to pri