Taxing questions
Most of us risk being taxed on our income, our capital gains and the
value of our estate when we die. It is worth getting a clear grasp of
how these taxes work and then discussing with your financial adviser
the most tax efficient financial planning for you.
Income tax
The single person's income tax allowance for the year 2011/2012 is £7,475 (2010/2011 - £6,475). If your
total income is less than this during the tax year then there's no tax
to pay.
Neither should you have to pay tax on any interest you've earned on
your savings. So if you're on a low income then your bank or building
society can provide you with Inland Revenue form R85 to apply for your
interest to be paid gross.
Income tax bands 2010-2012
| Rate |
2011/2012 Band |
2010/2011 Band |
| Starting rate for savings:10%* |
£0-£2,560 |
£0-£2,440 |
| Basic rate:20% |
£0-£35,000 |
£0-£37,400 |
| Higher rate:40% |
£35,001-£150,000 |
Over £37,401-£150,000 |
| Additional rate:50% |
Over £150,000 |
Over £150,000 |
* From 2008-09 there is a 10 per cent starting rate for savings income only. If your non-savings income is above this limit then the 10 per cent starting rate for savings will not apply.
The self-employed can claim business expenses against their income. So
make sure you include all possible justifiable business expenses on
your self-assessment form. This also applies to capital allowances
for expenditure on plant and equipment, including computers and tools,
for example, used for your business.
Don't forget pension payments either. You may be able to pay further
contributions to your pension, which can soak up some unused tax relief.
One other point to remember, if one spouse is a tax payer and the other
is not or pays tax at a lower rate it is worth considering switching
some investments to take advantage of their unused tax allowances.
Capital gains tax
In the tax year 2011/2012 an individual has a CGT allowance of £10,600
(10/11 £10,100).
This means that you do not have to pay tax on gains from buying and
selling shares or other investments during the tax year up to that amount.
Remember also that you do not normally have to pay tax on any gain you
make when you sell your main residence.
If you have used your CGT allowance, don't forget your ISA allowance.
Both a "Cash ISA" and a "Stocks and Shares ISA" can shelter capital gains on investments, for
example shares, worth up to £10,680 per year.
Inheritance tax
Inheritance tax is hanging over more and more of us each year. This
is largely due to the rise in residential property values. The current
IHT allowance is £325,000. Depending
on the value of your house and other assets this may not be that big
an allowance. If you die leaving an estate worth more than £325,000
and you have no spouse your estate will come
in for IHT at 40% on the balance.
Even if you do have a spouse to inherit then this only puts off the
time when tax will be payable because he or she will also pass away one
day. It is worth doing some forward planning with a tax adviser to decide
whether it would be appropriate to gift some of your estate, perhaps
to children or other relatives, during your lifetime; or possibly redirect
assets up to the value of the nil rate band into a trust on death.
The nil rate band is effectively transferable between husband and wife such that where one spouse has died with a chargeable estate for IHT of less than the nil rate band at the time, the unused proportion will be added to the nil rate band of the surviving spouse on the second death.
One thing is for sure with all forms of tax; if you do nothing the
government will use its considerable powers to make sure a share of your
hard earned wealth ends up in their coffers.
For further information about the 2011 Budget changes please click here.
Levels, and bases of, and reliefs from taxation are subject to
change. |
