Don’t Lose Your Personal Allowance!
For every £2 that your adjusted net income exceeds £100,000 the £12,500 personal allowance is reduced by £1. Pension contributions and Gift Aid can help to reduce adjusted net income and save tax at an effective rate of 60%. The restriction applies between £100,000 and £125,000 adjusted net income. Another way that you could avoid […]
Inheritance Tax in the Spotlight
We are expecting major changes to inheritance tax in the March Budget following two reviews by the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) and also a report by an All Party Parliamentary Committee. Inheritance tax is perceived as a complicated tax with numerous fairly trivial reliefs and exemptions. Currently the tax only generally applies to transfers […]
Further Changes to Entrepreneurs’ Relief?
Another tax relief that may be further restricted or even abolished is Capital Gains Tax entrepreneurs’ relief. This relief allows business owners to pay just 10% Capital Gains Tax on the first £10 million of capital gains when they dispose of their business and was tightened up in the Autumn 2018 Budget. When first introduced, […]
Year End Capital Gains Tax Planning
Have you used your 2019/20 £12,000 annual capital gains exemption? Consider selling shares where the gain is less than £12,000 before 6 April 2020. Also, if you have any worthless shares consider a negligible value claim to establish a capital loss. You may even be able to set off that capital loss against your income […]
Will Pension Tax Relief Change in the Budget?
There are frequent rumours that pension tax relief will change in the Budget. This is even more likely this year as the new Government looks for additional tax revenue to fund its ambitious spending pledges such as the HS2 rail link. There is speculation that the restriction for those with income over £150,000 may be […]
Pension Planning Before the End of the Tax Year
For most taxpayers the maximum pension contribution is £40,000 each tax year, although this depends on their earnings. This limit covers both contributions by the individual and their employer. Note that the unused allowance for a particular tax year may be carried forward for three years and can be added to the relief for the […]
Have You Used Your 2019/20 ISA Allowance?
Your maximum annual investment in ISAs for 2019/20 is £20,000. Your investment needs to be made before 6 April 2020. In addition, have you thought about investing for your children or grandchildren by setting up a Junior ISA? In the 2019/20 tax year, you can invest £4,368 into a Junior ISA for any child under […]
Consider other Tax Efficient Investments
If you are looking for investment opportunities, have you considered the Enterprise Investment Scheme? These investments in certain qualifying companies allow you to set off 30% of the amount invested against your tax bill as well as the ability to defer capital gains tax until the shares are sold. An even more generous tax break […]
Buy New Equipment Before 6 April?
Your business year-end, not 5 April, is relevant for capital allowances purposes. If however you are running a business and making up accounts to 31 March or 5 April you should consider buying plant and machinery to take advantage of the £1 million Annual Investment Allowance. The Annual Investment Allowance provides a 100% tax write-off […]
Yet Another Chancellor – Big Changes in the Budget?
It will be nearly 18 months since the last Budget and in the meantime we will have had three different chancellors following the unexpected resignation of Sajid Javid. The early years of a new Parliament are a good time to make radical changes and many are predicting significant tax announcements on 11 March, 2020. Rather […]
