PASSING PENSIONS DOWN THE GENERATIONS

Having sent that letter to nominate your beneficiaries, it is worth looking further at the range of options that may be available with the new Flexi-Access Drawdown Pension schemes (and older style pensions can be transferred to the new Flexi-Access pensions) which provide more choices of how you can choose to pass the money on when you die. The majority of older pensions will simply pay out a lump sum to the named beneficiary(s). This lump sum is tax-free if the person concerned is younger than 75 when he dies. If they are 75 or over when they pass away, the lump sum is taxed as if the beneficiary had earned it as income. This can result in a substantial tax charge.

If your pension is a new style Flexi-Access Drawdown, or if you transfer your existing pension to one, you can nominate anyone you want as a beneficiary, regardless of whether they are family or not. It is also possible to pass the pension, or part of it, to a beneficiary as a pension, as opposed to just a cash lump sum. Thus a person could pass his pension as a pension to a child or even grandchild and the child or grandchild would be able to access it immediately regardless of their age. And the pension benefit could be passed down the generations even further.

This opportunity won’t be of use to everyone, but it can have substantial income tax and inheritance
tax benefits so it is important to know what your options are. If you have a question on this, please
contact your pension provider or contact us.

COMING OF AGE!

It is time to look at the advantages that come with reaching the larger numbers of years of age!

Age 55 – A Magic Age of Pension Freedom

Reaching age 55 is a milestone and with that milestone comes access to your private pension benefits. Here some key points for the 55er’s amongst us to be aware of:

• You don’t have to retire to take your pension benefits. You can continue to work and even continue to pay into a pension.

• You don’t have to take all of the benefits at one go – you can take the tax-free cash and leave the rest to build up. You can then draw out additional amounts whenever you wish (note: whatever you draw out over and above your tax-free amount is taxable). • You can take all of the benefits immediately if you want to (but there can be significant taxes to pay!).
• At any time from age 55 onwards you can take the benefits. • Previously you had to take out a lifetime annuity with all of your pension except the tax-free cash element. That is no longer true although you still have the option to use some or all of your pension fund to buy a lifetime annuity (which will give you a guaranteed income for life) – see section on annuities in this newsletter.
• If you do not need the pension benefits, you can create a very tax-effective life assurance arrangement by just leaving it invested and nominating who you would want to receive it. You can change your mind about the beneficiary at any time.

• For those lucky few who have what are called “final salary” pensions, the options above generally will not apply but the income you will enjoy will probably more than make up for it.

• Warning – this access to the magic circle of your pension funds will not always be pegged at age 55. As the Government increases the State Pension age in the future, they are committed to also increasing this minimum pension age.

(Note: these are only approximate levels of borrowing. In some cases it may be possible to borrow somewhat more than what is shown above and in other cases, the borrowing that is possible may be less. Interest rates vary depending on the lenders and the level of borrowing. Usually they are fixed for the term of the mortgage and vary from 3.9% upwards. In the case of a couple the borrowing will be calculated on the age of the younger. The Lifetime Mortgage has to be the only mortgage on the property.)

Other Solutions - The Lifetime Mortgage – A New Flexible Mortgage Tool for the Older Generation

In many ways the new Lifetime Mortgages provide the sort of flexibility that was a feature of mortgage borrowing many years ago.

The level of borrowing is determined in most cases not by affordability calculations, but by just the borrower’s age and value of the property. The older you are and the more the property is worth, the more you can borrow.

This can provide an escape from an older interest-only mortgage arrangement. It can also open the door for using the value in the property for any other reason – whether it is for one’s own projects or to help family with problems they may have. The Lifetime Mortgage interest rates have also been inching downwards in the last few years as competition has increased. Past credit problems also usually do not present a barrier.

Pension Freedoms

The majority of pensions now basically consist of a pot of money. The current rules allow a person aged 55 or older to take 25% of the value of this pot tax-free. The rest can be used to set up an income for life or to draw down lump sums when needed. Any of these remaining funds that are taken out or turned into income are taxable. They are treated the same way as any other earned income in the year they are taken.

While the majority of people we see have the relatively simple type of pension described above, there are some complications with older pensions where there are certain guaranteed benefits built into the plan. It is worth having such plans looked at by a professional to ensure you are not missing out.

There are also many people who still will be able to benefit from better pension schemes termed

“defined benefit or final salary pensions” as they guarantee an income based on years of service and salary. We are available for assistance with such matters. Just give us a ring.

OPTIONS AND SOLUTIONS!

While there is much uncertainty politically in our and other countries, we can maintain our own personal financial stability by following sensible and proven rules. One of the first is to ensure that you have more money coming in than you spend! This certainly will keep you in the “Happiness” zone described by Charles Dickens, in one of his books.

This principle applies to individuals as well as groups and businesses and even countries.

To achieve this you do need to have a bit of organization in place so you can see all that comes in

and all that goes out. Much more could be done to help educate those growing up so that they do

grasp such basics and also learn the patience of setting money aside for a special purchase rather

than having to buy things immediately on impulse.

USING OUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

“Service is, as ever, unbelievable.”

Mr CE of Crawley

“Very professional and helpful service.”

Mr JG of East Grinstead

USING OUR EXPERIENCE AND EXPERTISE

“Thank you so much for all your help with these pensions.

We couldn’t have done it without you.”

Mr & Mrs KC of West Sussex

“Friendly and accurate advice.”

Mr AO of East Sussex

TAX-FREE SAVINGS ACCOUNTS

The ISA (Individual Savings Account) is the most commonly used tax-free savings plan. From the

6th of April 2017 the limit that one can put into ISAs in this tax year is £20,000. There are various ISA choices which one can use but the total in the year cannot exceed the £20,000.

YOUR ISA MENU

A. The “old fashioned” simple ISA – can be invested in cash or stocks and shares. Good for anyone.

B. Junior ISA – only for those under 18. Anyone can pay into it for the person concerned,  e.g. grandparents. The maximum annual contribution is £4,080.

C. Help to Buy ISA – Only of real use for someone looking to save specifically to buy their first property. Anyone over 16 can start one, but the bonus from the Government is only added when the person actually buys their first property. If monies are taken from the Help to Buy ISA for other than purchasing the person’s own first home, no Government bonus is added to the monies withdrawn. The maximum that can be saved in the Help to Buy ISA is £1200 initially and £200 per month thereafter up to a maximum of £12,000. The Government bonus added is 25% up to a maximum of £3000.

D. Innovative Finance ISA – High risk. You lend your money through websites regulated by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). These are known as peer-to-peer lending platforms or “crowd-lending”. The expected return is approximately double the rates offered by Cash ISA providers. For more information go to MoneySavingExpert.com – “Peer to Peer Lending”

E. The new Lifetime ISA (Lisa) launched 6 April 2017. This is only available for those aged 18 to 40. It is complicated but generally it would suit someone saving for buying their first property or as an alternative to a pension – particularly for someone who is self-employed. The maximum you can put in is £4,000 per annum. The Government will add a 25% bonus each year. The Lisa can be invested in cash, or stocks and shares. Note: The 25% Government bonus is added annually to what you put in, but monies cannot be withdrawn before age 60 unless it is being used for buying a first home. After age 60 it can be used for any purpose. Withdrawals for any purpose other than the home purchase before age 60 are subject to a 25% penalty. The Government will only add its annual 25% bonus for monies put into the Lisa up to age 50.

Note:

Lisa's are not yet broadly available as many providers consider them too complicated. Search the Internet if you want to know what choices there are.

ENJOYING ACCESS TO ONE’S PENSION SAVINGS

Over the last couple of years we have assisted many clients to access their pensions – either for lump sums to help family members or other projects, or to set up a regular income to supplement their current income.

The minimum age for accessing pension benefits currently is 55. Most people will be able to take 25% of the pension fund value as a tax-free cash lump sum. You can also access more of the pension but money taken this way is taxable and may affect your ability to add money to a pension in the future. Please contact us if you wish to find out what options are available to you with your pensions.

THE AUTUMN STATEMENT!

There was not much that was new announced in the Chancellor’s November statement

but it is worth taking note of the key tax changes from the 6th of April 2017:

Personal Tax And Benefits Changing From 6 April 2017

• The Personal Allowance will increase from the present £11,000 to £11,500. (This is the amount

of money you can earn before you start paying any tax at all.)

• The amount you can earn over and above your Personal Allowance and pay only 20% tax will

increase from £32,000 to £33,500. (If you include the Personal Allowance from next April of £11,500, it means that you will have to earn in excess of £45,000 before you start paying 40% tax.)

• You will pay 40% from that level up to £150,000, and over £150,000 you will pay the Additional

Rate of Tax – 45%. (Note: If you earn £100,000 or more, your entitlement to a Personal Allowance

will be lost progressively until it is gone completely for those earning £122,000 or more.)

• The Individual Savings Account (ISA) contribution limit will rise from £15,240 to £20,000.

• The Government announced its intention to launch a savings bond with a £3,000 limit and an

interest rate expected to be about 2.2% over a three year period.

• We understand that the Rent-A-Room relief will continue at the level of £7,500 per annum.

This is income you can earn from letting a room in your personal residence which will not be

taxable if it is less than £7,500 in the year. If you have any questions how this works, go to

www.gov.uk/rent-room-in-your-home/the-rent-a-room-scheme.

SOME TIPS FOR THOSE OF US GROWING OLDER (OR WITH FRIENDS OR RELATIVES GROWING OLDER!)

• If income is tight, consider the possibility of renting out a room or two. You can earn up to £7,500 a year from this free of any tax.

• As we reach a point where some help is needed with our affairs, we should consider taking out a Lasting Power of Attorney to ensure there is someone who will be able to assist when needed.

• Make sure you are not paying more tax than you need to. The new taxation of savings income and of dividends may work out in your favour.

RETIREMENT MENU

Cash please

Those who are 55 and older can now draw out all (!) of their pension fund as cash. So you can ask to have it all as cash (!)   BUT…

Tax! The downside is that with each pension only 25% of the fund can be taken tax-free.

Any amount that you take over and above this tax-free 25% will be taxed as if you had earned it in the Tax Year in which you draw it out. That amount is added to your other income and is taxed accordingly.
Example:
A person aged 55 is earning £20,000 per annum and paying about £1,800 in tax on those earnings. He has a pension fund worth £40,000 and he wants to take it all out. He would get the first £10,000 tax free. The remaining £30,000 would be added to his £20,000 other earnings and he would be taxed

as if he had earned £50,000. This would result in him paying £9,200 in tax instead of £1,800. So he would lose £7,400 of his £30,000 pension to the taxman. A person already earning enough to put him in the higher rate tax bracket (40% tax where the total income exceeds £43,000) could lose 40% of the money he takes out over and above the tax-free amount. In our example of a £40,000 pension fund, he would still get the £10,000 tax-free but lose £12,000 of the remaining £30,000 in tax). Therefore it is important to take tax into account when working out when to take money out of the pension.

(Note: this article refers to personal pensions only; the rules are different for a Final Salary Scheme where the benefit is based on the salary and years of service and some other special types of  pensions.)

Income Options

(Note: all these options assume that you take out the tax-free cash.)

Option 1: Leave the balance invested with the option to take out further funds in the future – either when your need is greater or when your tax position is more advantageous. This is called a Flexi-

Drawdown arrangement as it provides the flexibility for you to draw out whatever sums you want at any time you want them. But remember that once you have drawn out the tax-free element, any other monies you take out will be taxed. Such an arrangement also involves investing your pension fund so you would need to consider both the risk that comes with such investments as well as the provider’s charges for running the pension.

Option 2: Use the balance left over to set up a guaranteed income for life (an “annuity”). The amount of income received would depend on your age – the older you are, the more you would get. The amount of income you would get also depends on your state of health – the worse off you are health-wise, the greater the income you are likely to receive. You can set it up on just your life or so that it covers both you and your spouse/partner. The idea of guaranteed income is attractive but the current annuity rates are quite low so the amount of money you can obtain may be a bit disappointing.

Option 3: Take a short-term guaranteed income (a “temporary annuity”). This pays out a guaranteed level of income for a fixed number of years and then pays out a guaranteed sum on maturity – which can then be used again in Option 1 and 2 above or to repeat this Option 3 for a further term of years.

A NEW RETIREMENT MENU FOR PERSONAL PENSIONS!

RETIREMENT MENU

Minimum age 55

(Note: different rules apply to Final Salary/Defined Benefit Pensions and some other schemes)

Cash please

You can have it all as cash but only 25% of it tax-free. You will be taxed on whatever else you take out in the same way as if you had earned it in that Tax Year.

Income please Option 1: You can still get an income guaranteed for life (Annuity -see further

notes below)

Option 2: If you have health issues you may be entitled to a higher guaranteed income for life (Enhanced Annuity)

Option 3: Draw an income from your pension fund itself (Drawdown)

Option 4: Use a guaranteed fund to protect your investment but still be able to take an income (Guarantees).

State Pension please  The State Pension is increasing but the State Pension age is also going please up. To find out when you will receive your State Pension go to www.gov.uk/calculate-state-pension.

“Side Dishes”

You may have other sources of income to help in retirement. This might be investment income, or rental income from an investment property or income from letting out one or more rooms in your home  (Rent-A-Room scheme allows you to earn up to £7500 tax-free).

More on Annuities 

There are a variety of annuities available. The general concept is that you use all or some of your pension fund to buy a guaranteed income for life or for a specified period. The older you are, the more income you will get for your money. The guaranteed income can be for the person with the pension and a spouse or partner – to go on for as long as the last survivor is alive. The annuity can provide a level income or an increasing income. There are also annuities which are linked to investments so they can go up or down.

More exotic dishes

The pension rules are different for other types of pensions. If yours is not a personal pension, do feel free to contact us for guidance.

MORTGAGE PRISONER?

There are a number of property owners who find themselves unable to obtain a new mortgage due to the new mortgage requirements for proving income and affordability.

In some cases that has left borrowers either unable to move, or stuck with their lender’s Standard Variable Rate when new fixed rates are 1% or 2% better. Just a 1% reduction on a £150,000 mortgage would save £1500 in interest each year (assuming a 20 year repayment mortgage). Here are a few examples of this “mortgage prisoner” problem along with possible solutions:

Problem: Some older people cannot get a new mortgage with a long term because of the new attitude of most lenders to maximum mortgage ages.

Solution: Try your present lender to see if they can provide some flexibility or contact us as there are a number of niche lenders who can take a more enlightened view about maximum mortgage ages — where the deal makes sense.

Problem: Some people were able to take a mortgage out in the past when it was possible to self-certify the level of their income. In virtually all cases now income must be proven and the self-employed will be assessed on their net income as shown by the Tax Office.

Solution: Some lenders are more generous in their income calculations than others and some lenders require only one year’s completed accounts. For those over 55, Equity Release solutions may be of help as these are based on age and property value only. We can make enquiries for you.

Problem: Some people took out interest-only mortgages with a plan of how to repay them, but that original plan is no longer possible.

Solution: For some simply downsizing will be a solution. For others who want to stay where they are, however, there are other options. There are still some interest-only mortgage options available if one is simply looking to extend the time he can continue to stay in the property. It is also possible for those aged 55 or older to use an Equity Release lifetime mortgage or similar solution. We can make enquiries for you.

Note: Lending restrictions are expected to tighten even further by the end of March 2016.

PENSION INCOME OPTIONS

If you have reached the magic age of 55, you can draw your pension benefits from a private pension in a number of different ways. These include the following:

• you can use all the pension fund to buy an income guaranteed for life (annuity);

• you can take 25% of the pension fund and use the remainder to buy an annuity;

• you can take 25% of the fund tax-free and leave the remainder invested with the option to draw

out a regular income or lump sums as you wish;

• you can cash in the whole pension, receiving 25% free of tax, and the remainder taxed as if you had earned it in that tax year.

Note: Other than the 25% you can take tax-free, all other income or lump sums you take will be subject to tax, so it is very important to take advice on the tax you have to pay.

There are pros and cons for all of these choices. Do give us a ring if you would like to go over your options.

THE COST OF DYING – INHERITANCE TAX

The concept that a Government should be able to tax people when they die goes back many centuries as even Julius Caesar had a form of death tax.

However, it really surfaced in the UK in 1796 when “death taxes” were used to finance the war against Napoleon Bonaparte. We have been subject to one form or another of a tax on death since then.

Currently those who die and leave an estate are taxed at 40% on the value of the estate, i.e. the total value of all that a person owns, in excess of £325,000. If they leave their estate to a spouse or civil partner, there is no tax chargeable at that point. When the surviving spouse or civil partner dies, their £325,000 allowance can be added to their partner’s unused £325,000 Inheritance Tax Allowance. Thus tax is only then due on the amount of the estate in excess of £650,000.

The headlines from the July Budget was that the Chancellor would be protecting a family’s estate for up to £1,000,000. While that is good long range news, the facts are as follows:

• The current allowance (nil-rate band) of £325,000 is being frozen at £325,000 for the next two years.

• The increased allowance will only be phased in from April 2017 starting with an extra £100,000. That means it will not be until 2021 when the headline promised £1,000,000 provision would become available.

• The extra allowance will only be available to use in relation to residential property being passed on to children and their direct descendants.

WHY USE US?

We have over 30 years of experience with financial matters which has given us a great deal of expertise and know-how.

We seek to provide an efficient, professional and friendly service to all our clients.

Here are a few recent client comments:

“You are trustworthy and professional with clear explanations given. Thanks for your patience.”

– Mr JG of East Grinstead

“Thank you for your help and attention, excellent as always.”

– Mrs CC of Leicestershire

“Ever grateful for your prompt and helpful advice.”

 – Professor BHW of Oxford

“I needed someone I could trust.”
– Mr GN of Turners Hill,West Sussex


“That’s brilliant. Can’t believe how quick you got this (mortgage offer) through.”
– TM and DW of Crawley, West Sussex

BETTER IN A BUY-TO-LET?

It is expected that many people may want to empty their pension funds and put the proceeds into one or more residential buy-to-let properties. This may suit many, but there are some factors to take into

account:
• How much tax will have to be paid on the money withdrawn (if in excess of the 25% tax-free sum);

• The amount of Stamp Duty to pay (on properties costing in excess of £125,000);

• The legal fees and other costs to be paid to purchase a property;

• The fact that rental income is potentially liable to tax;

• That there may be Capital Gains Tax to be paid on the eventual sale of the property.

This is not intended to be a statement that no-one should use their pension fund to invest in a Buy-to-Let, but it is meant to ensure that anyone who intends to do so balances the desire to acquire a property with the advantages of keeping the money in a pension (tax free increase in value; ability to pass to beneficiaries free of tax; ability to access income from the pension fund instantly rather than suffering the delays in releasing the value locked up in a property).

WHY TAKING OUT THE MAXIMUM MIGHT NOT BE THE BEST IDEA!

1. The first reason obviously is that you will have to pay tax on what you take out over and above the first 25%.

2. The other reason is that money in a pension fund can pass to a beneficiary, and, indeed, down a line of beneficiaries – all free of Inheritance Tax. And once a beneficiary receives entitlement to the inherited pension fund, the money they take out is ALL tax-free. (Note: if the person with the pension fund dies aged over 75, the rules are slightly different; contact us if you need more information on this.)

So, if you have other alternatives to provide you with the income you need, you may wish to consider preserving the pension fund as an efficient means of providing an inheritance.

PENSION FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY

From the 6th of April the various new pension rules come into effect. They allow those with personal pensions from age 55 to take money out of their pension as much as they want, and when they want. The general rule still applies that only the first 25% of the fund can be taken tax-free. If more than that is drawn out, it will be taxed as if it were earned income in the Tax Year in which it is taken. You will still have the option to use your pension fund to secure a guaranteed income for life by purchasing an annuity or using a Drawdown Pension to keep your money invested with or without guarantees.  

This “pension freedom” approach has been in effect in Australia for many years and generally people have made sensible decisions with their pensions – with a minority taking it all out to splurge on a world cruise or buying a fancy car. With the freedom to access the money, comes a need to assess how you will use it. Pensions generally are intended to replace earned income as one grows older and works less, or gives up paid work all together. This means some forward planning will need to be done including working out how long you are likely to need to draw on the pension fund and what your budget is now, and what it will be in the future. This planning will be different from person to person.
 

The level of tax you will have to pay on the money you take out may well determine how much you take out and when. To repeat what we said before, the first 25% of the pension fund can be taken free of tax. The balance of any additional money taken out will be added to any other taxable income you have in the Tax Year and you will pay tax accordingly. If we look at the Tax Year beginning 6 April 2015, you have your Personal Allowance which means, for most of us, that the first £10,600 of income will not be taxed at all.The next £31,785 you earn will be taxed at 20%. After that you will pay tax at 40% for the next £107,615, and any income taken above that will be taxed at 45%.