Defined contribution (DC) pensions offer valuable legacy planning opportunities, but it’s vital that DC pension holders and their advisers act early to utilise these benefits.

Here we highlight the potential tax advantages of planning early.

It’s fairly common for investors hold offshore investment funds in their portfolios. Investors, however, may be unaware that some of their offshore funds could be accumulating income (that is never distributed) that needs to be included in their UK tax return.

Here we highlight the different types of offshore funds and how to remain tax compliant.

The splitting of pension assets on divorce is complex but with careful planning, it’s possible to identify outcomes that will stand the test of time, for both parties.

Here we look at the main tax implications of pensions (the Lifetime Allowance, Pension Protection and the Annual Allowance) and where the opportunities, and problems, arise both during and after divorce.

Carry Forward could allow an individual to benefit from up to £45,000 of income tax relief on previous years’ unused pension contribution allowances, provided they have adjusted income of £210,000 or more.

In this Briefing Note we explain in general terms how Carry Forward works.

The 6th April will re-set the clock on the annual pension contribution allowance. It’s therefore the time of year to work out what additional income tax relief may still be available from pension contributions. Relief at higher rates of income tax can be significant. But those on higher earnings are subject to a tapering of their Annual Allowance. It’s not a straightforward calculation, with plenty of blind spots which could lead to penalties on excess contributions.

Most businesses offer death in service benefits as part of their overall remuneration package. What can often be overlooked is that these schemes are usually set up on a similar basis to a registered pension scheme and could result in additional tax charges of up to 55% in the event of a claim.

Here we highlight how a relevant life policy could be an effective alternative to group life assurance cover.

Life assurance has proved to be a dependable and non-controversial way to fund future UK inheritance tax liabilities. Can it be as simple as getting through the medical and paying the premiums?

This briefing note looks at the advantages and disadvantages of life assurance and how it can be used to help mitigate UK inheritance tax.

Defined Benefit (DB) pensions provide secure index-linked income for life. So why are so many people tempted to give up this guaranteed income for life?

Here we highlight some of the reasons why it could be suitable to transfer benefits from a DB pension to a defined contribution (DC) arrangement.

It is not uncommon for beneficiaries and their executors to find that pension benefits are subject to an unexpected lifetime allowance tax charge. This may be due to a pay-out from a death in service scheme, which may seem odd to those who have not yet seen this in practice.

In this Briefing Note we highlight how those potentially affected – higher earners with significant pension assets – should do to avoid this additional tax charge on death.

Good risk management includes planning for events which might seem unlikely today but which could have a huge impact on the business.

Yet a recent report by Legal & General shows that 35% to 48% of UK SMEs do not have adequate cover to protect their debts in the case of death of a shareholding director.

Here we explain why business loan and key person protection plans should form part of a company’s risk management plan.