Inheritance Tax & Trusts

We’re very proud that VouchedFor has listed Vizion Wealth in the Sunday Times as one of the top recommended Independent Financial Advisors in the UK. With a head office in Stony Stratford, Milton Keynes and a secondary office in St Albans, Hertfordshire, our team of advisors cover the surrounding areas including Greater London, Buckingham and Bedfordshire.

Vizion Wealth approaches Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning as part of a wider holistic financial plan which typically evolves over time. Understanding and considering your own long term retirement and lifestyle goals is key before making provision for loved ones and implementing an inheritance tax planning strategy to reduce the potential liability to HMRC and increase the legacy passed to your chosen beneficiaries.

Effective inheritance tax planning incorporates a wide range of strategies including drafting your will and power of attorneys correctly, utilising gifting exemptions and the use of trust, insurance and inheritance tax exempt structures to reduce your liability.

Peace of Mind

Making sure that you’ve made plans for after you’re gone will give you peace of mind. You don’t have to be wealthy for your estate to be liable for Inheritance Tax, and it isn’t something that is paid only on death, as it may also have to be paid on gifts made during someone’s lifetime. The rate of Inheritance Tax on death is 40% and on chargeable lifetime transfers at 20%.

Your estate will be liable if it is valued over the current Inheritance Tax threshold on your death. The Inheritance Tax threshold, or nil rate band, is currently at £325,000 for each person. This amount has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009, and HM Revenue & Customs have confirmed that it will remain frozen at this level up to and including the 2020/21 tax year. There is no accounting for inflation, and therefore the effect of this freezing of the NRB is such that increasingly more estates may have an Inheritance Tax liability.

From 6th April 2017, a new main residence nil rate band has also been introduced where the main residence passes to direct descendants. This has started at £100,000 but will increase to £175,000 by April 2020.

As part of an inheritance tax planning meeting, we will typically consider:

• Wills and structuring your estate
• Utilising gifting exemptions
• Reviewing suitable term, whole of life and gift inter vivos insurance policies to reduce or cover your Inheritance Taxation Liability

Consider various types of trusts to meet your needs

This can incorporate discounted gift trusts, wealth preservation trusts or loan trusts to provide an element of access to capital or income during your life. Other options include family discretionary trusts and bare trusts to remove capital from your estate while still providing an element of control and management.

Alternative IHT exemption strategies

These may utilise business property or agricultural property relief and may incorporate tried and tested schemes such as Enterprise Investment Schemes, IHT or AIM portfolios.

With Inheritance Taxation being such a complicated area seeking professional independent advice from an estate planning specialist at Vizion Wealth will ensure implementation of a robust, effective and bespoke inheritance tax planning strategy to preserve your family wealth in the future.

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