Latest Private Client Tax

SDLT for First time buyers – The government has introduced a new relief from SDLT for first-time buyers (in England, Wales and Northern Ireland) for all transactions with an effective date on or after 22 November 2017. The relief works as follows: £300,000 or less: no SDLT payable £300,001 and £500,000: no SDLT on the…

  At the moment, tax relief remains available on pension contributions at an individual’s top rate of tax, making pensions a very tax efficient form of investment. Especially when the new provisions for flexible access of pension funds is taken into account.   But we have yet another Budget approaching, on 22nd November, and it…

  HMRC have now implemented their ‘Simple Assessment’ project, where they use the information already available to them from employers, pension providers, the DWP and banks to calculate the tax for those with straightforward or ’Simple’ tax affairs, without the need for a tax return to be completed.   In theory this sounds like an…

  Following last year’s report from HMRC  showing that only a quarter of couples eligible for marriage tax allowance were actually claiming, figures have reduced but still stand at just over a half of couples missing out on the £230 a year they are entitled to. Although the government have tried to simplify the application…

  I have blogged on this subject before. Unfortunately, this type of fraud is on the increase.   HMRC have published an up-dated warning with examples of bogus emails, text messages, and social media scams purporting to be from HMRC.  They also mention again bogus callers leaving messages about the need to make immediate tax…

  The government are offering compensation to those who have been affected by problems with the implementation of Tax-Free Childcare. Individuals who have been affected may be able to get a government top-up as a one-off payment for Tax-Free Childcare. The government will also consider refunding any reasonable costs directly caused by the service not…

  A parent with spare funds to invest may like to consider purchasing a property for their student son or daughter to live in whilst at university, in order to save on student accommodation costs.   We recently advised a client that, so long as their son or daughter lives in the property as his…

For deaths occurring on or after 6 April 2017, an additional exemption is available where a residence passes to a direct descendant.  At the moment, this amounts to £100,000 but it’s set to increase over the next few years, to a maximum of £175,000 in April 2020.  Commonly known as the Residence Nil Rate Band…

If you are employed or getting a pension, HMRC will check that you have paid the right amount of tax for the tax year.  If you have under or overpaid, they will issue a P800 tax calculation.  The calculation is broken down into various sections to show your income, deductions, tax allowances, and the tax…

With the taxation of dividends and interest having changed with effect from April 2016, many trusts may face the requirement to file an annual tax return and pay income tax on their income, even though the income (and credit for the tax paid) will also be declared by the trust beneficiary.   HMRC allow trustees…