Personal Tax
Are you overlooking company pension contributions?
Having your company top up your pension is one of the most tax-efficient ways to extract profits, yet many owner managers still default to taking a combination of salary and dividends. Are you ready to take your tax planning to the next level?
Tapering IHT on gifts
You want to make some large cash gifts to your children but you’re worried about the inheritance tax (IHT) implications. ChatGPT says the rate of tax is reduced if you survive more than three years, but you’ve also read that you need to survive seven years. Which is it?
Can you beat the bonus tax trap?
A fellow director has asked whether his bonus payment can be delayed until after 5 April 2026 to reduce his personal tax bill. Does his plan work and, if so, how does it impact the company’s tax position?
Tax relief for lending to your company
You can usually claim tax relief for money you borrow personally to lend to your company. It sounds straightforward but there are in fact a number of restrictions to trip you up. How do you secure the tax relief?
Cut your losses to get a tax refund
You invested in a company that’s now in dire straits and your shares are worth next to nothing. Selling them isn’t an option so how do you go about getting some tax back on your bad investment?
Sharing salary with your partner
You’re a director with a substantial salary and your partner isn’t working right now. If you could split your salary with your partner the tax saving would make a real difference. How can you legitimately share your salary to improve the overall tax position?
Directors’ fees - can you escape PAYE?
You’ve been asked to join the board of a company in a purely advisory role. For tax and NI efficiency you want your fees to be paid to your own company. Does this arrangement fall foul of HMRC’s off-payroll rules?
Planning ahead for pension salary sacrifice changes
From 6 April 2029, both employers and employees will be required to pay Class 1 NI on pension contributions in excess of £2,000 made through a salary sacrifice arrangement. What can you do about it?
Dodging the 2027 IHT and pension changes
In a little over a year the inheritance tax (IHT) exemption for unused pension savings comes to an end. If you’re married or in a civil partnership, one simple step might save your estate thousands in IHT. What is it?
Working from home tax relief scrapped in Budget
Employees who are required to work from home are currently able to claim tax relief at a flat rate of £6 per week. That's changing from 6 April 2026. What's the full story?
How to improve your state pension
If you ask the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) it will tell you that once you’ve paid 35 full years of NI contributions you can’t increase your state pension by paying more. That’s wrong. When can paying NI beyond the 35-year limit benefit you?
Are IHT changes coming?
You’re seeing a lot of speculation in the press about further changes to inheritance tax (IHT) in the upcoming Budget, including a cap on the amount you can give to your loved ones. Would you be better off making gifts before the Budget date?