Tax planning & trusts

Benjamin Franklin wrote in 1789 that "in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes". You cannot avoid the former but we can help ensure that the burden of the latter is kept to an absolute minimum. Good, intelligent planning can make a real difference. 

Trusts provide a useful tool for tax planning purposes since they can be a good way of making tax efficient vehicles to benefit you, your family and future generations. There are various types of trusts that can be advantageous to you. Our experts understand that everyone’s circumstances are different and are able to advise you on the trust which is best suited to your needs.

A trust can be established for a variety of reasons and they can give you the benefit of a flexible structure for protecting your assets for future generations. For example, you may wish to assist your children on the purchase of a property whilst preserving the contribution from an immature child, a fragile marriage or physical or mental deterioration of a family member. A trust is able to achieve this.

Our expertise in tax and trust matters will enable us to calculate your potential liability for inheritance tax or capital gains tax and guide you through the complex UK tax legislation in order to minimise your liabilities and to maximise the reliefs available to you. We are able to provide you with ongoing advise on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief to reduce the inheritance tax liability as well as the use/or impact of Holdover Relief, Rollover Relief and Entrepreneurs Relief to reduce or postpone your capital gains tax liability. 

Trusts can last for up to 125 years and it is important that you have excess to advisors who can help with all the taxation issues connected with trusts, the needs of the beneficiaries and where appropriate the need to alter the original trust structure. Our experience enables us to provide trustees and beneficiaries appropriate and tailored advice to meet your needs and circumstances on all aspects of trust law including the interpretation of the trust documentation and past actions by trustees.

Working with you and your family we will advise on: 

• The creation of all forms of UK trusts and their use in tax planning and the devolution of family assets to the next generation
• Tax efficient gifts to trusts
• The change of trustees
• Distribution of trust assets and the tax consequences of so doing
• Advising existing trustees on their powers and responsibilities - statutory and under the provisions of the trust deed
• Variation of existing trust arrangements
• Inheritance tax and capital gains tax issues affecting trusts
• Holdover relief, entrepreneurs relief and rollover relief from capital gains tax
• Agricultural property relief and business property relief from inheritance tax