Lifetime gifts and Inheritance Tax: How to notify HMRC

There has been much chatter in the press recently regarding the abolition of Inheritance Tax (IHT). However, for the time being, and for the foreseeable future I expect, it remains a thing and should be planned for accordingly. One effective way to do this is via gifting. If you make a gift during your lifetime, it becomes exempt from IHT after seven years. However, many people are unsure how to report these lifetime gifts to the taxman (HMRC).

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What should I do with my offshore investments when returning to the UK?

When it comes to preparing your offshore investments for a return to the UK, the most important thing is to ensure you start planning as early as possible. Most tax specialists recommend that you should ideally give yourself at least a full UK tax year between deciding to move home and actually making the move. Aside from the obvious reason of being well prepared, the reason for starting the planning so far in advance is that things rarely run smoothly.

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Can I save into a UK pension plan if I live abroad?

Yes, you can live abroad and save into a UK pension scheme. However, there are limits to the tax relief you can claim on your contributions. If you move overseas, for the next 5 tax years you can still make pension contributions of up to £3,600 a year and get tax relief. This assumes you have no earnings taxed in the UK. If you continue to have earnings taxed in the UK, tax relievable contributions can be based on these…

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QROPS guide for expats – Read to understand your options

The purpose of this QROPS guide for expats is to use 20+ years of experience in dealing with international pensions to help you understand how QROPS work and outline the circumstances in which they should and should not be used. Tens of thousands of British expats have transferred their UK pensions to QROPS structures since they were launched in April 2006. The structure has proved to be incredibly popular as they help Britons who have permanently moved abroad to simplify…

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