Tony Byrne's View

I recently attended an evening presentation by an organisation called Philanthropy Impact on the subject of Social Enterprise Businesses. Philanthropy Impact’s mission is to inspire philanthropy and social investment across borders, sectors and causes.

 

What I learned from the presentation is that Social Enterprise Businesses are increasing in popularity in the UK..

Since Pensions Freedoms were introduced by the then Chancellor George Osbourne in April 2015 the common belief has been that Money purchase pensions are free of Inheritance Tax on death...

As any regular reader of my blog will know by now I have a dim view of the high taxes we pay in the UK, the hidden taxes and the sheer complexity of the tax system. Sir Humphrey of Yes Minister fame would love it of course!

 

I am particularly critical of the main capital taxes by which I mean Stamp Duty, Capital Gains Tax and Inheritance Tax. Why?

The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS), the wonderfully Yes Minister type name given to this so-called independent arm of the Treasury, recently announced it is going to have a consultation on the ultimate unpopular death tax known as Inheritance Tax (IHT)...

The Financial Conduct Authority, the FCA, has recently completed a consultation on investor protection. It’s excellent news for investors.

Two of the most successful wealth managers in recent years, both FTSE 100 Share Index companies, are in fact not independent and neither can they be truly described as wealth managers as such. The two companies I am talking about are of course Hargreaves Lansdown and St James’ Place...

Did you know that collective investment schemes, primarily unit trusts and OEICS, have unprecedented levels of investor protection?

Did you know there is a plethora of amazingly tax efficient investment schemes in the UK today but like the proverbial scorpion there is a sting in the tail for the uninformed and ignorant investor? The investments I am going concentrate on here are what are known as esoteric tax efficient investment schemes which means they are not common, not in the mainstream...

Last tax year heralded the introduction of the new Residence Nil Rate Band, the RNRB, which is an extra Inheritance Tax free allowance of £125,000 per person in addition to the existing IHT free allowance known as the Nil Rate Band, NRB, of £325,000 per individual...

Ever since the introduction of so called pension simplification in April 2006 ironically pensions have become ever more complicated. This has resulted in what can only be described as a Venus Fly Trap of tax traps for the unsuspecting flies or pension contributors...