Tax & Estate Planning

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One of the most important aspects of estate planning is to make sure your family, friends and favourite causes inherit as much of your wealth as possible. When someone dies, Inheritance Tax (IHT) becomes due on the value of their assets.

Effective IHT planning is a considered and precise process, that forms part of a comprehensive wealth strategy encompassing all of your goals and assets. Our highly qualified wealth planning experts will work closely with you to formulate a holistic plan that provides you with a  sustainable level of retirement income, while also giving you access to your capital when you need it.

Inheritance tax services

When inheritance tax is payable and how to work out what IHT is due. Understand how the tax-free nil-rate is calculated and when it can be transferred from one partner to another. We also cover the new main residence nil-rate band.

Inheritance tax rates and allowances - Inheritance tax of 40% is paid on what you leave to your heirs. Use our inheritance tax calculator, plus find out inheritance tax rates, and how it works.
Inheritance tax planning and tax-free gifts - Give away money from your estate to reduce your inheritance tax bill, and what is a 'potentially exempt transfer'
Inheritance tax on property - How is your property is taxed when you pass it on to your heirs, and the rules and thresholds for the main residence nil-rate band in
Inheritance tax for married couples - Married couples and civil partners can make use of each other’s tax-free allowance without special tax planning
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Trust services

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A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that allows a third party, or trustee, to hold assets on behalf of a beneficiary or beneficiaries. Trusts can be arranged in many ways and can specify exactly how and when the assets pass to the beneficiaries. We can help you with the following;

Asset Preservation Trust (APT) is a purpose designed death benefit trust to hold the death in service (DIS), personal pension or SIPP lump sums (including plans in draw down) following a client's death. Use of the trust can protect the benefits from social impacts.
Discounted Gift Trust is different in that it enables the settlor(s) to benefit from regular withdrawals. This right to receive the withdrawals takes precedence over the other beneficiaries' right to the trust fund. The remainder of the trust fund is held for the benefit of the beneficiaries.
The Gift Plan allows you to make a gift which may reduce the value of your estate for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes. Any growth in the Trust will be outside your estate for IHT purposes. No inheritance tax will be payable on the gift if you live for more than seven years after it has been made.
Gift and Loan Trust This is a scheme for a client who wishes to benefit from an element of Inheritance Tax saving but who do not wish to tie up their money at all. In this scheme they set up a Trust with a nominal payment and then lend their capital to the Trust.
Loan Plan allows you to take steps to reduce Inheritance Tax (IHT). Any growth in the investments will be outside your estate for IHT purposes. Since you have made a loan to the Plan and not a gift of capital, you retain the right to receive repayment of the Loan on demand.
Multiple Trusts Setting up a Trust is a flexible way of giving away assets without passing them absolutely to Beneficiaries (eg become part of the Beneficiaries estate). In order to reduce the occurrence of periodic and exit charges we would advise the use of Multiple Trusts settled (signed) on different days, therefore becoming non-related settlements commonly referred to as Pilot Trusts or Asset Protection Trusts.
Investment Trust Is a public listed company. It's designed to generate profits for its shareholders by investing in the shares of other companies. Shares in investment trusts are traded on the London Stock Exchange so investors can buy and sell from the market, rather than dealing with a fund management company.

FATCA and CRS

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) FATCA is a U.S. legislation which aims to combat tax evasion by U.S. persons. The intent behind the law is for Foreign Financial Institutions (FFIs), i.e. non-U.S. financial institutions to identify and report any U.S. persons that hold assets abroad to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The Common Reporting Standard (CRS) Following on from FATCA, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) has formed an initiative for global tax transparency known as the CRS. The CRS is a broad reporting regime that draws extensively on the intergovernmental approach to the implementation of FATCA.

Will writing services

A will is a legal document that states how your affairs will be handled after you die. A basic will designates who will receive your property, appoints a guardian for your minor children, and names an executor to manage your estate;

Single Will Perhaps the most familiar and suitable for any individual person to outline their wishes.
Mirror Wills Are designed for couples who have the same wishes. There are in fact two documents produced, one for each person, but each Will ‘mirrors’ the other
Trust Wills There are different types of Trust Wills, which gives you flexibility over your property and assets and how they’re managed. Discretionary Trust - is used to leave your estate or part of it, to a trust created in your Will and only come into play once you pass.
Property Trust Will protects property in your estate and allows someone to benefit from the property held in the trust while at the same time preserving all or part of it for other beneficiaries.
A Flexible Life Interest Trust Will - Is similar to a Property Trust Will but protects assets, and in this case, a beneficiary can receive income from the trust. It means a surviving spouse can still have access to funds for their needs, but on their death, the assets pass to other beneficiaries such as children.
A Flexible Life Interest Trust Will is often the best type of trust for most circumstances as it has extra flexibility about how and when funds are released. Such as if your spouse needs funds to pay for care home fees, these are then owed to the trust and are repaid and passed on to beneficiaries on death.
Living Will legally referred to as Advance Decisions, this is a document which outlines any medical treatments you don’t want in future, are only used if you are unable to make or communicate those. These are commonly used to refuse life-sustaining treatment such as being given CPR or being put on a ventilator. Or used to outline what treatments are not to be used to treat long-term diseases such as cancer, for example, refusing surgery.
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