TaxiPoint May 2025 Magazine: Fixed price airport fares, Making Tax Digital and the ‘Backing Our Taxis’ campaign
- Perry Richardson
- May 6
- 2 min read
TaxiPoint’s May 2025 edition has now launched, bringing together a wide range of taxi trade developments from across the UK. With over 6.5 million magazine reads to date, Edition 73 continues to serve as a central source for trusted and original reporting on industry news, analysis and regulation.
This month’s magazine features in-depth coverage on some of the biggest stories currently affecting drivers and operators, including regulatory changes, platform acquisitions, and regional policy developments.
One of the leading articles this month looks at the upcoming shift in tax reporting for self-employed taxi drivers. From April 2026, drivers earning over £50,000 will be required to adopt digital tax reporting under HMRC’s Making Tax Digital (MTD) programme. The article outlines what drivers need to know about quarterly income submissions and the impact this may have on record-keeping and financial planning. Further down the line, even more drivers will be affected as thresholds lower.
Elsewhere in the edition, there is a feature exploring the use of fixed airport fares in Paris. Introduced in 2016, the fixed pricing model has helped rebuild trust among passengers and support the city’s taxi trade against private hire competition. The piece examines whether a similar model could work in UK cities, where fare clarity remains a challenge for many passengers.
In business news, the acquisition of FREENOW by US-based ride-hailing firm Lyft is examined in detail. The €175 million deal sees Lyft enter the European market by taking control of a platform used by more than 50 million riders annually. UK drivers working on the FREENOW platform are unlikely to see immediate changes, but longer-term integration could bring updates in technology, pricing tools, and driver information.
A recurring topic throughout the magazine is regulation. Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham’s new campaign against cross-border private hire licensing features heavily. The ‘Backing our taxis’ campaign pushes for local licensing control in city regions, highlighting the safety and operational concerns raised by the rise in out-of-area licences, particularly from Wolverhampton. Responses from across the country show widespread trade support for tighter licensing boundaries.
The magazine also takes a closer look at local taxi branding and identity. From Leeds to Newcastle, the piece questions whether cities are doing enough to protect their distinct taxi services in the face of growing private hire competition. It suggests that local identity remains a key selling point that, if better promoted, could help the trade retain market share.
In addition to the feature content, readers will find regular regional news updates, technology developments, enforcement stories, and policy reviews from across the UK. Highlights include Salford’s offer of mental health training and health checks for taxi drivers, the rise in Gatwick Airport’s drop-off fees, and the continuation of London’s clean taxi funding support.
