Tax codings - a better understanding In many of our client meetings, the subject of tax codings is discussed. This is only increasing with the rises seen in the State Pension amount coupled with the personal allowance remaining static meaning that more people are having a change in tax coding. In the majority of cases, this is so that tax that is due on their State Pension is being claimed from other sources. Whilst we are not accountants, we feel it is important that clients understand what their tax codes mean and why they change. As much as anything else, this can give a ‘sense check’ as to whether the tax coding is right or not.  In the UK, a tax code is a series of letters and numbers used by your employer or pension provider to determine how much Income Tax to deduct from your pay or pension. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) issues these codes, and they are the only ones who can change them.

Why 'Sitting Tight' is Important........ A couple of months ago, we were all waking up to the news that President Trump had imposed tariffs on trade, the markets reacted badly (they never like unexpected news), and markets fell. As always, our message was to ‘sit tight’ and ‘don’t panic’ - because of the way we run our clients portfolios and ensure they have sufficient cash either within or outside of their portfolios for short term emergencies, it was time to use these rather than encash investments at a time where markets were considerably down. The only unknown in this scenario is when the recovery might be. History (although it cannot be entirely counted on) has always shown us that the markets will bounce back - we only have to look at Covid and Liz Truss’ budget as recent examples. The media, however, always like to jump on bad news and seem to forget when there is good news to report. Yesterday (4th June), I happened to look at what the main markets were doing both in the UK (FTSE 100) and the US (Dow Jones), just to give a high-level overview of where the recovery was, and this is what I found……. 

Riding the Investment Roller Coaster: Three Tips for a Smoother Ride Investing can sometimes feel like being on a roller coaster. One moment you're thrilled as your investments climb, and the next, a sudden drop can make your stomach churn. It's a natural part of the journey, with both ups and downs to be expected. Decades of stock market history show that declines are a regular occurrence, with average intra-year drops of around 14% for the US stock market between 1979 and 2023. However, the good news is that despite these bumps, the US stock market has ended with positive returns in 37 out of the past 45 years. So, how can you stay calm and make the most of your investment journey despite the inevitable twists and turns? Here are three key reminders: 1. Keep Your Eye on the Horizon It's easy to get caught up in short-term market fluctuations, especially when you see a dip. However, it's crucial to remember the bigger picture. Instead of panicking over a near-term drop, try to focus on your long-term investment goals. As the saying goes, "this too shall pass," and history suggests that markets have generally trended upwards over the decades, rewarding investors who remain disciplined. Taking a step back from the immediate market noise can provide helpful perspective and ease your fears. 2. Stay in Your Seat When the market takes a sharp downturn, the urge to sell your investments and avoid further potential losses can be strong. But this is often compared to jumping out of a roller coaster mid-ride – it's generally not a good idea! Attempting to time the market perfectly to dodge the worst days can actually lead you to miss out on the best days. Consider this: if you had invested $1,000 in the S&P 500 Index back in 1990 and left it untouched, it would have grown to $27,221 by the end of 2023. However, missing just the single best day during that period would have reduced your ending wealth by nearly $3,000. Missing the five best days would have cost you over $10,000. Over the long term, even a few key days can make a significant difference. So, like a roller coaster rider advised to keep their seatbelt fastened, investors may be well advised to stay invested.

Buying Back State Pension Years  When we are building a client’s lifetime cash flow plan, we always ask any clients who are under the State Pension age to do a State Pension forecast. This enables us to see whether clients have built up sufficient year’s contributions to be eligible for a full state pension. If they haven’t and it is unlikely they will work enough years to get the full quota, we look at the feasibility of buying som e additional years. You can pay voluntary National Insurance contributions to fill gaps in your record and increase your State Pension. You can check your National Insurance record to see if there are any gaps. There is an important deadline of April 2025 coming up as detailed below meaning that for some, immediate action could be wise. In most (but not all) cases, it is worth buying back any missing years - especially if they are partly funded years to maximise entitlement to the full state pension. Steps to consider ........ Check if you qualify for the full State Pension Consider if there are other ways to increase your State Pension for free Decide if the cost of voluntary contributions is worth it Pay voluntary contributions before the deadline Eligibility and deadlines ......... You can pay voluntary contributions to fill gaps between April 2006 and April 2016 if you're eligible The deadline to pay for gaps between April 2006 and April 2016 is April 5, 2025 After April 5, 2025, you can only pay for voluntary contributions for the past 6 years How to check your record......... You can apply for a National Insurance statement from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) You can check your National Insurance record on GOV.UK Due to the number of years you can ‘gap fill’ changing, some people may need to take quick action before April 2025.

Charitable Donations As the tax year end is approaching, most individuals concentrate on the common ways of reducing their tax bills like making personal pension contributions or gifting unused personal income tax allowance to a spouse. One that often gets ‘forgotten’ is the tax implications of charitable donations and remembering to make a note of them over the course of a financial year to then input on a tax return. Understanding the tax implications of charitable gifts is important for both the donor and the charity. Here's a breakdown of key points that aren’t just limited to income tax benefits…... Gift Aid: * This scheme allows charities to reclaim basic rate tax on your donation, effectively increasing the value of your gift. * If you're a higher-rate taxpayer, you can also claim back the difference between the basic rate and the higher rate. Capital Gains Tax (CGT): * If you donate certain assets, like shares or property, to a charity, you're generally exempt from CGT on the gain. Inheritance Tax (IHT): * Gifts to charities are typically exempt from IHT. * Leaving a charitable gift in your will can also reduce the overall IHT payable on your estate. * There are also rules that if you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charity, then the inheritance tax rate on the rest of your estate is reduced. Donating Shares or Property: * Donating qualifying shares, securities, or land can provide income tax relief. * This allows you to deduct the market value of the asset from your taxable income. Company Donations: * Companies can deduct charitable donations from their pre-tax profits, reducing their corporation tax liability. Important Notes: * It's crucial to ensure that the charity you're donating to is a registered charity to qualify for these tax benefits. * Tax laws can be complex, so seeking professional financial advice is recommended, especially for large or complex donations. In essence, charitable giving in the UK is encouraged through various tax reliefs, benefiting both the charities and the donors.

Taking Benefits from Final Salary Pensions At Belmore we are seeing a few similar cases with our clients about taking benefits from Final Salary Pension schemes The History Individuals who are now in their late 50’s/early 60’s are caught in the period of time where final salary pension schemes have become less common (particularly in the private sector) and historic schemes are caught with differing retirement ages depending on when the member was employed and when the scheme changed its rules/legislation for retirement ages. The Implications Gone are the days where someone reaches a particular age and all their pensions became payable at once - that would too easy! This means that many people have relatively small pension schemes relating to previous employment that they can start receiving - most commonly at ages 60, 65, 67 - yet they are still working and either cannot afford to fully retire or don’t want to. The Options As a general rule, a member will receive a pack detailing their options a few months before they reach the scheme retirement age. This will outline the options available including whether to take tax-free cash and the impact (if any) it has on the income. When choosing the best option there are a few important things to consider…….. Should I take the tax-free cash? This decision depends on individual circumstances. Some people need tax-free cash to clear debt, others use it to provide an emergency fund if their cash reserves are lower than is comfortable. It also depends on the implication it has on the income being offered, the need for secure income and what other sources of income there will be available in retirement. Should I defer taking my income? As a rule of thumb the answer to this is normally ‘no’ as the income you would miss out on in the deferment will take a considerable number of years to ‘catch up’ on to break even in your bank account. With the majority of schemes, the benefits once in payment will increase by RPI or CPI or similar. It is important to remember that aside from a spouse's pension (often half the income or lower of the member’s income) these schemes die with you so the object of the exercise is to maximise what you get out. Does taking final salary pension income affect my ability to make personal pension contributions? No, taking benefits from a final salary scheme does not affect your ability to make contributions into a personal pension. Will I need to do a tax return? No, the final salary scheme will deduct tax at source. What if pension income puts me into higher rate? If individuals don’t need the additional income and it puts them into higher rate tax when added to their PAYE income then there is an opportunity to make higher personal pension contributions to claim back the higher rate tax.

Personal Taxes and the Budget Tax Thresholds • Personal tax thresholds have remained frozen until 2028, meaning fiscal drag will continue as planned. • From 2028/2029, thresholds are expected to increase in line with inflation. Minimum Wage • National Living Wage will increase by 6.7% to £12.21 per hour starting next April. • Minimum wage for 18-20-year-olds will rise by 16.3% to £10 per hour. Non-Domiciled Status • The non-domiciled tax system is to be abolished from April 2025 (Conservatives previously scrapped the non-domiciled special status in their Budget, but Labour has now further amended the rules, removing the option for non-domiciles to move funds offshore ahead of the full change in April 2025). Capital Gains Tax (CGT) • Capital Gains Tax (CGT) rates have increased to bring all assets (including residential property) to the same levels of 18% for basic rate taxpayers and 24% for higher rate taxpayers. • Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Venture Capital Trust (VCT) schemes have been extended to 2035. • Primary residences will continue to be exempt from CGT. • CGT on carried interest will rise to 32% from 2025, specifically targeting the fund management industry. Inheritance Tax (IHT) • The Inheritance Tax (IHT) nil rate band remains frozen at £325,000 for individuals, while the residence nil rate band remains at £175,000 for estates up to £2 million. Both thresholds are frozen until 2030. • From April 2026, the first £1 million of combined business and agricultural assets will continue to attract no inheritance tax, but for assets over £1 million, inheritance tax will apply with 50% relief, at an effective rate of 20%. • A 50% relief now applies in all circumstances on inheritance tax for shares on the alternative investment market, and other similar markets, setting the effective rate of tax at 20%. Tax on Pensions • The 25% tax-free lump sum for individuals drawing from their pensions has been retained. • Starting in 2027, pensions will once again form part of the deceased's estate for IHT purposes (so the spousal benefit will apply to this). • The triple lock system on the state pensions has been maintained. Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) • First-time buyers purchasing a property will now pay SDLT at the 2025 rate of 5% on properties priced above £300,000 and below £500,000. • For first-time buyers purchasing a property priced above £500,000, the standard SDLT rates for 2025 will apply. • The SDLT surcharge for second and additional properties has been increased from 3% to 5%, effective from 31st October 2024. Source: Timeline budget breakdown

Bonds When governments or companies need long-term financing (2 to 30 years), they issue Bonds in the capital market. Government Bonds are called Gilts, while company Bonds are known as Corporate Bonds. Both are collectively referred to as Fixed-Interest Securities, as they pay interest either at a fixed rate (Conventional Gilts / Bonds) or the interest they pay is Index-linked.* Bonds may also be called Debentures, Loan Notes, or Loan Stock. *Some Bonds, known as Zero Coupon Bonds, don't pay regular interest but are sold at a discount, with the full face value repaid at maturity. Bonds can be bought directly from issuers or through collective investments like Unit Trusts, OEICs, and Personal Pensions. Essentially, buying a Bond means lending money to the issuer in exchange for regular interest payments (typically every six months) and the return of your capital at maturity. Corporate Bonds tend to offer higher interest rates than bank savings accounts due to the higher risk of default. The risk is reflected in the issuer's credit rating, which influences the coupon rate—the lower the credit rating, the higher the risk and coupon. Bond prices in the secondary market fluctuate with interest rates. When rates fall, Bond prices rise as coupons become more attractive compared to bank savings. Conversely, when rates rise, Bond prices fall as bank savings become more competitive. The Government provides tax incentives for buying Gilts and qualifying Corporate Bonds. The yield on Bonds represents the return relative to the price paid, with the fixed coupon amount remaining constant while the Bond price may vary. Sources: https://nextgenplanners.mn.co/posts/investments-r02-j10-day-2-learning-outcome-1-part-2

Client Explainer - Equities (Shares) Buying shares means owning part of a company, granting you shareholder rights, often including voting on key issues. Shares can be purchased directly via the stock market or as part of pooled investments (this is the most common as part of a pension or investment portfolio). They may be new shares from an Initial Public Offering (IPO) or existing ones traded publicly. Investments can range from small (Private Equity) to large (FTSE-listed) companies, with the AIM market somewhere in the middle. The goal is for the share value to grow with the company’s profitability. Dividends may be paid, typically higher from larger companies, while smaller companies may offer more potential for capital growth. However, company performance isn't guaranteed, and some may reinvest profits without growing. In simple terms, shares are an investment in companies that produce real goods and services. The prices of these goods and services will increase with inflation, as will the profits (hopefully), providing investors with a return over inflation.