Pilot trusts post the Finance Bill 2015

One of the bigger surprises in this year’s Autumn Statement was the news that the much consulted upon new ‘Settlement Nil Rate Band’ has been dropped. 

One of the reasons for proposing a Settlement Nil Rate Band was to make the use of multiple trusts less attractive for Inheritance Tax (IHT) mitigation purposes.  Each trust would no longer have its own IHT nil rate band to set off against the periodic charges to IHT, such as the ten year anniversary charge and any exit charges, that it may face during its existence.

Now, with the publication of draft clauses for the Finance Bill 2015 last week, we learn that, in certain situations, there remains a future for planning involving multiple trusts after all.

CGT Principal Residence Relief update

My 24 April 2014 blog reported that buried within the Government’s March 2014 consultation on extending Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to non UK residents was a change to CGT Principal Residence Relief (PRR) affecting UK residents. 

Last week, the Government published its response to the consultation and confirmed that PRR is set to change.  The changes are not as envisaged in the consultation document though.