Blog

Trust solutions

Managing wealth
We can advise you on a range of different trust solutions, each designed with a particular purpose in mind.

Some types of trust are treated differently for Inheritance Tax purposes.
Bare trusts
These are where the assets in a trust are held in the name of a trustee but go directly to the beneficiary, who has a right to both the assets and income […]

Trusts

Helping you control and protect your assets
One of the most effective ways you can manage your estate planning is through setting up a trust. The structures into which you can transfer your assets can have lasting consequences for you and your family, so it is important that you obtain professional advice as the right structures can protect assets and give […]

Tax Deductions – are you getting them soon enough?

Until 31st December 2015 purchases of Plant, Equipment, Fixtures & Fittings (Excluding cars)  i.e. Capital Allowances(CAs) of up to £500,000 in a financial year receive a full tax deduction all at once; any excess is spread over 20 years plus.

e.g. your company has ordered some new machinery but it will take a couple of months to arrive and be installed. […]

Exempt gifts

Passing on parts of your estate
There are some important exemptions that allow you to legally pass your estate on to others, both before and after your death, without it being subject to Inheritance Tax.
Exempt beneficiaries
You can give things away to certain people and organisations without having to pay any Inheritance Tax. These gifts, which are exempt whether you make them […]

Make a Will

Sharing out your estate
Planning your finances in advance should help you ensure that when you die, everything you own goes where you want it to. Making a Will is the first step in ensuring that your estate is shared out exactly as you want it to be.

If you don’t make a Will, there are rules for sharing out your estate […]

New Individual Savings Accounts have arrived

Providing you with simplicity and greater flexibility
Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) have been around since 1999, providing a tax-efficient wrapper for savings and investments. However, in the recent Budget, the Chancellor, George Osborne, promised to increase the simplicity and flexibility of ISAs. As of 1 July 2014, there is now a single ISA which has been named the new ISA, or […]

Valuing your estate

Arriving at the amount of Inheritance Tax payable
To arrive at the amount of Inheritance Tax potentially payable when valuing your estate, you need to include assets (property, possessions, investments and money) you own and certain assets you have given away during the last seven years. The valuation must accurately reflect what those assets would reasonably receive in the current open […]

Getting the Inheritance Tax foundations right

The later you leave it, the more limited your options will be
Successful planning is dependent on getting the foundations right, and it is most effective when it is conducted early. The later you leave it, the more limited your options will be. Current rules mean that the survivor of a marriage or registered civil partnership can benefit from up to […]

It’s Time to Calculate Your Inheritance Tax Bill

Inheritance tax ‘Nil Rate Band’ and rates
Inheritance Tax is charged at the following rate on death:

Inheritance Tax

Current tax year

Taxable value of your estate above which it is charged

£325,000*

Rate at which it is charged

40.00%

* Inheritance Tax threshold frozen (until 5 April 2018)

We can help you evaluate the size of your estate—which could include assets such as property, pensions, shares and personal […]

Inheritance Tax Matters

Perhaps not quite the ‘voluntary’ tax it was once considered
Effective estate planning is about getting the right balance between maintaining access to your money when you need it and saving tax. This is because, in general, the more tax-efficient a solution is, the less access you have to your assets. Safeguarding your own financial future is very important and giving […]