Tax Matters: New initiatives you need to know!

It’s important to consider the tax implications of making financial decisions. The 2018/19 tax year is now upon us and a raft of new changes have come into force. The good news is that there is little change in the overall tax burden for basic-rate taxpayers. However, there are number of areas that have changed that should be taken note of.

Here’s what you need to know about the 2018/19 tax year changes and new initiatives.

Personal Allowance

The tax-free Personal Allowance is the amount of income you can earn before you have to start paying Income Tax. All individuals are entitled to the same Personal Allowance, regardless of their date of birth.

In the 2017/18 tax year, the Personal Allowance was £11,500, and it rises to £11,850 in the 2018/19 tax year. This means you can earn £350 more in the 2018/19 tax year than in the previous tax year before you start paying Income Tax. However, bear in mind that the Personal Allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of an individual’s adjusted net income above £100,000.

A spouse or registered civil partner who isn’t liable to Income Tax above the basic rate may transfer £1,190 of their unused Personal Allowance in the 2018/19 tax year, compared to £1,150 in the 2017/18 tax year to their spouse or registered civil partner, as long as the recipient isn’t liable to Income Tax above the basic rate. You are eligible for this transfer if you’re married or in a civil partnership, you don’t earn anything, or your income is £11,850 or less and your partner’s income is between £11,851 and £46,350 (or £43,430 if you’re in Scotland).

Higher-rate Threshold

The threshold for people paying the higher rate of Income Tax (which is 40%) increased from £45,000 to £46,350 in the 2018/19 tax year (this does not apply in Scotland). This new figure also includes the increased Personal Allowance.

Dividend Allowance

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Philip Hammond, announced in the Spring Budget 2017 that the Dividend Allowance would reduce from £5,000 to £2,000 from 5 April 2018.

Any dividend income that investors earn above the £2,000 allowance will attract tax at 7.5% for basic-rate taxpayers, while higher-rate taxpayers will be taxed at 32.5% and additional- rate taxpayers at 38.1%.

This may impact on shareholders of private companies paying themselves in the form
of dividends, for example, rather than salary. Investors with portfolios that produce an income in the form of dividends of more than £2,000 a year, which are held outside ISAs or pensions, will also be affected by the reduction in the allowance.

Auto Enrolment Contributions

Auto enrolment contribution rates have increased for employees and employers. In the previous 2017/18 tax year, the minimum total contribution was 2%, with employers subject to a minimum of 1%. From 6 April 2018, the total minimum increased to 5%, with employers subject to a minimum of 2%. The employee contributes the difference between the two.

Pension Lifetime Allowance

The Lifetime Allowance increased from £1 million to £1.03 million in the 2018/19 tax year. This is the maximum total amount you can hold within all your pension savings without having to pay extra tax when you withdraw money from them.

If the total value of your pension savings goes over the Lifetime Allowance, any excess will be taxed at a rate of 25% in addition to your marginal rate of Income Tax if drawn as income, or 55% if you take it as a lump sum.

State Pension 

There has been a 3% rise for the old basic State Pension and the new flat-rate State Pension. If you’re on the basic State Pension (previously £122.30 per week), this has increased to £125.95. The flat-rate State Pension has increased from £159.55 to £164.35 a week.

Inheritance Tax

Although the standard nil-rate band is frozen at £325,000, the residence nil-rate band (RNRB) has risen from £100,000 to £125,000. The RNRB enables eligible people to pass on a property to direct descendants and potentially save on death duties.

Capital Gains Tax

Capital Gains Tax is charged on profits that are made when certain assets are either transferred or sold. There’s no tax to pay if all gains made in a tax year fall within the annual Capital Gains Tax exemption. For the 2018/19 tax year, this will be £11,700 (it was £11,300 for the 2017/18 tax year).

Need help navigating the text maze?

Remember that tax rules and allowances can and do change over time. Their
effect on you depends on your individual circumstances, which can also change. We’ll help you to optimise your tax position. For a review of your position, contact us for further information or arrange a meeting.

 

Who are Vizion Wealth?

vw-portrait-blue-dark-grey-light-grey-ifa-and-wealth-final_edited-2Our approach to financial planning is simple, our clients are our number one priority and we ensure all our advice, strategies and services are tailored to the specific individual to best meet their longer term financial goals and aspirations. We understand that everyone is unique. We understand that wealth means different things to different people and each client will require a different strategy to build wealth, use and enjoy it during their lifetimes and to protect it for family and loved ones in the future.

All of us at Vizion Wealth are committed to our client’s financial success and would like to have an opportunity to review your individual wealth goals. To find out more, get in touch with us – we very much look forward to hearing from you.

DISCLAIMER

INFORMATION IS BASED ON OUR CURRENT UNDERSTANDING OF TAXATION LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS. ANY LEVELS AND BASES OF, AND RELIEFS FROM, TAXATION ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.

Posted by Andrew Flowers

Andrew is the managing partner of Vizion Wealth and has been involved in the offshore and onshore financial services industry for over 18 years. Andrew was the driving force behind Vizion Wealth after years of experience in a number of advisory roles within high profile wealth management, private banking and independent financial advisory firms in the UK.

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