Tax action

Getting your tax affairs in order before 5 April

This time of year is your last chance to get your tax affairs in order before the end of the 2018/19 tax year. We’ve provided a summary of some key tax and financial planning areas which may be appropriate to certain taxpayers and should be considered prior to the end of the tax year on Friday 5 April 2019.

Tax planning might not sound very exciting, but it can have a dramatic effect on your personal finances. The UK tax system offers many different tax reliefs and allowances for individuals. Reviewing your tax affairs to ensure that available reliefs and exemptions have been utilised, together with future planning, can help to reduce a potential tax bill.

Identifying any tax planning opportunities

Personal circumstances differ, so if you have any questions or if there is a particular area you are interested in, please do not hesitate to contact us. It is important to ensure that, if you have not done so already, you take the time to carry out a review of your tax and financial affairs to identify any tax planning opportunities and take action before it’s too late.

Tips to help you get ahead on managing your tax affairs

Income Tax – if your income is nearing the different tax thresholds, you could reduce your tax liabilities by reducing your taxable income. There are a variety of ways this can be achieved, from changing income into non-taxable forms, making pension contributions, making tax-incentivised investments and making donations to charity.

Transfer income-producing assets – consider transferring income-producing assets between your spouse or registered civil partner in order to use the Income Tax personal allowance and lower Income Tax bands of the transferee.

Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) – fully utilise your tax-efficient ISA allowance. The allowance for 2018/19 is £20,000 per person, whilst the Junior ISA allowance is now £4,260 for children under 18.

Capital gains – use the capital gains annual exemption of £11,700 (2018/19) to realise gains tax-free. The allowance cannot be transferred between spouses or carried forward.

Pension contributions – maximise contributions amount and tax relief. Take full advantage of increasing pension contributions by utilising the annual allowance, which is £40,000 (tapered if you earn over £150,000) or the value of your whole earnings – whichever is lower. Unused annual allowances may also be carried forward from the previous three tax years.

Pension contributions for spouses and children – consider contributing up to £2,880 towards a pension for your non-earning spouse or children. The Government will add £720 on top – for free.

Remuneration strategy – if you run your own company, it’s a good idea to determine your pay and benefits strategy sooner rather than later. For 2018/19, the dividend nil-rate band is reduced from £5,000 to only £2,000 – it’s really important to consider the tax implications of your chosen approach to salary, benefits, pensions and dividends.

Gifting – you can act at any time to help reduce a potential Inheritance Tax (IHT) bill when you’re no longer around. Make use of the IHT annual exemption that allows you to give away £3,000 worth of gifts outside of your estate. If unused, the exemption can be carried forward one year.

Overpayment and capital loss claims – submit claims for overpaid tax and capital loss claims for the 2014/15 year before 5 April 2019, after which such claims will be time-barred.

Landlords – for 2018/19, the restriction on deductibility of mortgage interest and other finance costs doubles from 25% to 50%. For 2019/20, the restriction will apply to 75%, and then from April 2020, 100% of finance costs incurred by individual landlords.

Let’s talk tax

Tax planning is a perpetual process. However, our tips are especially relevant to consider just before the end of the financial tax year. The tips we have provided are general in nature and should not be relied upon without seeking specific professional financial advice. To enable us to assist you with your own specific tax planning requirements, please do not hesitate to contact Reeves Financial on 01403 333145 or email areeves@reevesfinancial.co.uk – we look forward to hearing from you.

INFORMATION IS BASED ON OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF TAXATION LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS.

ANY LEVELS AND BASES OF, AND RELIEFS FROM, TAXATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

This is for your general information and use only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. The content should not be relied upon in its entirety and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, advice. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, there can be no guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of their particular situation. For Reeves Financial, published by Goldmine Media Limited, Basepoint Innovation Centre, 110 Butterfield, Great Marlings, Luton, Bedfordshire LU2 8DL Content copyright protected by Goldmine Media Limited 2017. Unauthorised duplication or distribution is strictly forbidden.