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YOUR TAX - Updated: March 5, 2009    

 

It is important to be aware of your tax position and, for example, the tax implications for you of different types of investments, so that any tax for which you are liable is kept to a minimum

Income Tax is the tax that affects the greatest number of people.  We see our role in part as helping clients to reduce the impact of income tax on their finances. We also encourage clients to keep proper records so that they can more easily complete their annual self assessment form and protect themselves in the event of a Revenue enquiry into their affairs.  The Revenue may investigate a person’s tax affairs without cause, for up to five years and ten months after the end of the tax year.

There are particular issues for some clients, such as retired people avoiding a loss of 'Age Allowance', that are simple to achieve and can save wasting income on unecessary tax.

Capital Gains Tax can be avoided in most cases with proper planning, except where clients make very large gains, for example from the sale of a second property.

Most people do not realise that they can withdraw £9,000 a year from the growth of their investments and that this is effectively a form of tax free income.

Inheritance Tax is again very much a voluntary tax in that there are many ways of removing its effect is proper planning is carried out in good time.

With some clients we can reduce the likely inheritance tax bill on their estate by £120,000 just by getting them to alter the way their wills are set up.

 

man holding a piggy savings bank

 

Timing

Tax is calculated in tax years which end on 5 April. It is important to bear this in mind when doing things that are likely to involve a tax charge. For example selling a shareholding on 8 March might involve you in a capital gain of £16,000 and a tax charge of 40% of £6,800 (ie 16,000 - CGT annual exemption, currently 9,200). This could be £2,720 of unecessary tax because if half of the shares are sold on 8 March and half on 8 April (a new tax year) there will be no tax to pay.

Similar effects can be achieved by the correct encashment of a life assurance bond in some cases and it is always worth discussing such matters with us before acting.

  

 

 



 
Telephone us 0845 3700 661
 
 
 

Arch Financial Planning Limited, Arch House, The Common, Cranleigh, Surrey, GU6 8RZ
Tel: 01483 204600  Fax: 01483 204601  Tel: 0845 3700 661 (local call charge only)  Fax: 0845 3700 662
Email: enquiries@arch-fp.co.uk