Tax rules

Pension death benefits and spousal bypass trusts: time to review

April 2015 saw another radical overhaul of the taxation of UK pensions on death. Gone is the 55% tax charge on payment of a lump sum death benefit after death, if the pension member either died after their 75th birthday or died pre-75 having already entered into drawdown. Instead, pension payments from a money purchase […]

To keep or not to keep Wills with Nil Rate Band trusts?

Chances are, if you’re British, married and have a professionally drawn Will which predates 2008, you may have a discretionary trust of the Inheritance Tax Nil Rate Band (NRB) in it. It is often called something like the ‘Legacy Fund’ and, while the exact words may differ, the Will usually provides for a gift of […]

Higher SDLT rates for additional residential purchases: planning points

Here we are in the brave new world of higher Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) rates for certain residential property purchases. As from 1 April 2016, anyone buying an additional UK residential property, such as a second home or buy-to-let, faces paying a surcharge of 3% above the standard SDLT rates (see my blog of […]

New dividend taxation rules: what trustees should be doing

The taxation of dividends is set to change in the new UK tax year beginning 6 April 2016. The 10% dividend tax credit will go, replaced by a new £5,000 dividend allowance that permits the first £5,000 of an individual’s dividend income to be taxed at 0%. Dividends will still sit as the top slice […]

New Stamp Duty Land Tax proposals – a market changer?

In the Autumn Statement last month, the Government proposed that purchases of additional residential properties in England, Wales and Northern Ireland should be subject to an extra 3% Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on top of the standard SDLT rates. All types of residential property will be caught – second residences, buy-to-lets or furnished holiday […]

Changes to business investment relief: a sop to non-doms?

Business investment relief (BIR) has been a feature of the UK tax system since April 2012 and it is unusual, being the only exception to the remittance basis of taxation that is ‘purpose-specific’. BIR allows UK resident non-doms to bring into the UK untaxed foreign income and foreign gains without making a taxable remittance of […]

UK residential landlords – significant tax changes may lie ahead

The Government has passed legislation which will increase UK tax bills for most individuals (whether UK resident for tax purposes or not) owning UK residential let property, where the property has been part financed through mortgage debt. The changes take effect from 6 April 2017. Those with high gearing and significant interest payments will be […]

Will your client’s choice of executor mean more tax?

How do your clients choose the executor(s) of their Will? Being married to the will-maker is often the only qualification needed to secure an appointment! Otherwise it might be the person’s suitability to the demands of the role, or their willingness to act. Tax efficiency is often overlooked. However, a will-maker’s choice of executor (and […]

IHT Same Day Additions – where are we now?

Does using multiple trusts save Inheritance Tax (IHT) still, or has IHT planning with multiple trusts been effectively abolished? When the second Finance Act of 2015 comes into force later on this autumn, we will finally have the answer. Those with enough spare memory to remember shelved legislation will recall that this time last year, […]

Losing the plot over CGT principal residence relief

In the UK, we take for granted that if we sell our main home, we don’t have to pay Capital Gains Tax (CGT). Yet, selling a home is still a disposal for CGT purposes. The main thing that prevents a CGT bill from being triggered by a sale of the home is CGT principal residence […]