Asset Protection examples…
Asset Protection
Company Assets – Ring Fencing
Client A wished to remove a commercial property from his business as part of an asset protection planning exercise. The property was demerged away from the trading business and effectively ring fenced; this transaction was commercially driven. There was limited stamp duty exposure of 0.5% on this transaction and no other taxes.
Comment: Asset protection is fundamental consideration when entering or embarking on new ventures, it is key that the transactions to protect assets are commercial/investment driven.
Private Assets – Trusts
Client B wished to gift assets to his family members whilst retaining an element of control. The client was concerned about potential claims against the beneficiaries in the future by spouses, trustees in bankruptcy etc, therefore the gifts were made into a relevant trust which provided the desired protection.
Comment: In order to provide real protection the trust has to be properly constituted, the correct type of trust must be used and not be a sole beneficiary trust as the courts have looked through such trusts in recent cases.
Offshore and Domicile
X individual had a sizeable portfolio of residential investment properties. We restructured the tax affairs to transfer the properties into an offshore company without triggering any taxes, all with HMRC clearances (which in our mind are essential for comfort).
As the individual was non UK domiciled for inheritance tax purposes, the strategy avoid IHT on the portfolio immediately, hence saving £2.1M, whilst operationally not affecting how the business was operated.
Latest news & blogs…
Mortgage lenders accepting an SA302 tax calculation
Self-employed clients may have difficulty proving their income when applying for a mortgage. To this end, HMRC have published details of mortgage providers and lenders who accept either a copy of the tax calculation (SA302) printed from the HMRC online account or a tax calculation printed from commercial software used to submit returns. The lenders also require a tax year overview which can be printed from the HMRC account.
The list of lenders who have agreed to accept tax calculations and tax year overviews that customers or their agents or accountants have printed is available on the Gov.uk website at www.gov.uk/government/publications/mortgages-providers-and-lenders-who-accwpt-a-sa302-tax-calculation-or-tax-year-overview.
Further interest rate restrictions for landlords
Over the past few years the way in which landlords have been able to obtain relief for interest and other finance costs has been changing. The system of relief is moving from one of relief by deduction – which applies for 2016/17 and earlier tax years – to one under which relief is given as a basic rate tax reduction. From 2020/21, relief will be given in full as a basic rate tax reduction. Transitional rules apply for 2017/18 to 2019/20 inclusive as the changes are phased in, with some interest costs relieved by deduction and the balance as a basic rate tax reduction. For 2019/20, 25% of the interest costs can be deducted in computing profits, with relief for the remaining 75% being given as a tax reduction at the basic rate. Check with Shipleys Tax that you are obtaining relief for interest costs in the correct manner.
Call on 0114 275 6292 or email info@shipleystax.com.
Making Tax Digital For VAT – Update
MTD goes live
Making Tax Digital (MTD) for VAT went live from 1 April 2019. It applies to businesses with VATable turnover over the VAT registration threshold of £85,000 from the start of their first VAT accounting period on or after 1 April 2019, unless they fall within one of the categories of businesses with more complex affairs (such as those in a VAT group) in respect of which the start date is deferred until the start of the first VAT accounting period beginning on or after 1 October 2019.
Under MTD for VAT businesses must keep digital records and file their VAT returns digitally using MTD-compatible software.
Speak to Shipleys Tax to check what you need to do to comply with the requirements of MTD for VAT.
Call us on 0114 275 6292 or email info@shipleystax.com.
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