Resources & Advice

Child Benefit is receivable by a person responsible for each child until they reach 16, or 19 if they stay in education or training.

If the person (or their spouse or partner) has ‘adjusted net income’ above £50,000 the person with the highest income has to pay some of the Child Benefit as a tax charge.

Where ‘adjusted net income’ is more than £60,000 a year, the tax charge equals the Child Benefit received.

Rate per week (2019/20 and 2018/19)

Eldest / only child: £20.70

Other children: £13.70

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is payable by individuals, trustees and ‘personal representatives’ (PRs). Companies pay corporation tax on their capital gains.

There are annual tax free allowances (the ‘annual exempt amount’) for individuals, trustees and PRs. Companies do not have an annual exempt amount.

For individuals net gains are added to ‘total taxable income’ to determine the appropriate rate of tax. The standard rate applies only to the net gains which, when added to total taxable income do not exceed the ‘basic rate band’.

Gains which qualify for ‘Entrepreneurs’ Relief’ or ‘Investors’ Relief’ are charged at 10% for the first £10m of qualifying gains.

The higher rate applies to higher rate and additional rate taxpayers.

Additionally, higher rates of 18% and 28% may apply to the disposal of certain residential property.

Rates

Income tax applies to the amount of income after deduction of personal allowances.

Income is taxed in a specific order with savings and dividend income taxed last.

Dividend income and savings income falling within the dividend and savings allowances still form part of total income of an individual.

The starting rate band is only applicable to savings income. The 0% rate is not available if the taxable amount of non-savings income exceeds the starting rate band.

Scottish resident taxpayers are liable on non-savings and non-dividend income as set out below. Savings income and dividend income are taxed using UK tax rates and bands.

Income tax is devolved to Wales from 6 April 2019.Welsh resident taxpayers continue to pay the same overall income tax rates using the UK rates and bands. The total rate of income tax = UK income tax + Welsh rate of income tax. Savings income and dividend income are taxed using UK tax rates and bands.

2019/20:

For Scottish residents the following bands apply for non-savings and non-dividend income:

For Welsh residents the following bands apply for non-savings and non-dividend income:

There are special rates for savings and dividend income falling into above bands of taxable income.

Savings Allowance:

Dividend Allowance:

2018/19:

For Scottish residents the following bands apply for non-savings and non-dividend income:

There are special rates for savings and dividend income falling into above bands of taxable income.

Savings Allowance:

Dividend Allowance:

Allowances

A personal allowance gives an individual an annual amount of income free from income tax.

Income above the personal allowances is subject to income tax.

The personal allowance will be reduced if an individual’s ‘adjusted net income’ is above £100,000. The allowance is reduced by £1 for every £2 of income above £100,000.

An individual born before 6 April 1935 may be entitled to a married couple’s allowance but this is reduced if ‘adjusted net income’ is above the married couple’s allowance income limit (see table below).

Marriage allowance – 10% of the personal allowance may be transferable between certain spouses where neither pays tax above the basic rate. The Marriage allowance is not available to couples entitled to the Married Couple’s allowance.

Personal Allowance

Blind person’s allowance

£2,450 (2018/19: £2,390)

Married couple’s allowance

Either partner born before 6th April 1935.

Note…

1. Reduce married couples allowance by £1 for every £2 of ‘adjusted net income’ over £29,600.

The income from ISA investments is exempt from income tax. Any capital gains made on investments held in an ISA are exempt from capital gains tax.

Savers are able to subscribe any amounts into a cash ISA, a stocks and shares ISA or an innovative finance ISA subject to not exceeding the overall annual investment limit.

Investors may transfer their investments from one kind of ISA to another.

A Help to Buy ISA provides a tax free savings account for first time buyers wishing to save for a home. The scheme provides a government bonus to each person who has saved into a Help to Buy ISA at the point they use their savings to purchase their first home. For every £200 a first time buyer saves, the government will provide a £50 bonus up to a maximum bonus of £3,000 on £12,000 of savings. The bonus will be paid in the form of a voucher when the first home is purchased. Conditions apply to the account holder and to the property purchased.

The Lifetime ISA is available for those aged between 18 and 40. Save up to £4,000 each year up until the age of 50, and receive a government bonus of 25% (a bonus of up to £1,000 a year). Savers can use some or all of the money to buy their first home, or keep it until they are aged 60 when the account can be accessed tax free. Conditions apply to the account holder and property purchased.  Penalties apply if funds are withdrawn in other circumstances.

IHT may be payable when an individual’s estate is worth more than the IHT nil rate band when they die.

Lifetime and death transfers between UK domiciled spouses are exempt from IHT.

For 2019/20, a further nil rate band of £150,000 (2018/19 – £125,000) may be available in relation to current or former residences.

The IHT threshold available on death may be increased for surviving spouses as there may have been a nil rate band not used, or not fully used, on the previous death.

There are reliefs for some business and farming assets which reduce their value for IHT purposes.

IHT may also be payable on gifts made in an individual’s lifetime but within seven years of death.

Some lifetime gifts are exempt.

Transfers of assets into trust made in an individual’s lifetime may be subject to an immediate charge but at lifetime rates.

There are also charges on some trusts.

Threshold

Standard nil rate band: £325,000

Rates

Reliefs for lifetime gifts

Annual Exemption: £3,000

Small Gifts: £250

Marriage: The amount of relief depends on who the gift is from…

Reduced charge on gifts within seven years of death

National Minimum Wage rates apply to employees up to the age of 24.

National Living Wage rates apply to employees 25 and over.

The Apprentice rate applies to apprentices under 19, or 19 and over in the first year of apprenticeship.

Penalties apply to employers who fail to pay minimum wages.

Class 1

Employees start paying Class 1 NIC from age 16 (if sufficient earnings).

Employers pay Class 1 NIC in accordance with the table below.

Employer NIC for employees under the age of 21 and apprentices under the age of 25 is reduced from the normal rate of 13.8% to 0% up to the Upper Secondary Threshold.

Employees Class 1 NIC stop when they reach their ‘State Pension age’. The employer’s contribution continues.

Employees

2019/20:

Entitlement to state pension and other ‘contribution-based benefits’ is retained for earnings between £118 and £166 per week

2018/19:

Entitlement to state pension and other ‘contribution-based benefits’ is retained for earnings between £116 and £162 per week

Employers

2019/20:

2018/19:

Other National Insurance payable by employers

Class 1A

13.8% on broadly all taxable benefits provided to employees.

Class 1B

13.8% on PAYE Settlement Agreements.

Class 2 and 4 (self-employed)

A self-employed person starts paying Class 2 and Class 4 NIC from 16 or over (if sufficient profits).

Class 2 NIC stop when a person reaches State Pension age.

Class 4 NIC stop from the start of the tax year after the one in which the person reaches State Pension age.

2019/20:

2018/19:

1. No Class 2 is due if the amount of trading profits assessable to income tax and Class 4 NIC is below this figure. However, a person might decide to carry on paying Class 2 voluntarily to accrue entitlement to the State Pension and entitlement to other benefits.

Class 4

2019/20:

2018/19:

Class 3

A person needs 35 years (30 years if State Pension age is before 6 April 2016) of NIC to get a full State Pension.

Class 3 voluntary contributions can be paid to fill or avoid gaps in a NI record.

Flat rate per week: £15.00 (2018/19: £14.65)

Stamp Duty

When you buy shares, you usually pay a tax or duty of 0.5% on the transaction. If you buy shares electronically Stamp Duty Reserve Tax (SDRT) is payable. For shares purchased using a stock transfer form, you will pay Stamp Duty if the transaction is over £1,000.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

SDLT is payable on land and property transactions in England and Northern Ireland.

Property transactions in Scotland are subject to Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT).

Property transactions in Wales are subject to Land Transaction Tax (LTT).

Residential property

The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band.

These rates may be increased by 3% where further residential properties, costing over £40,000, are acquired.

First-time Buyer Relief

First-time buyers may be eligible for first time buyer relief on purchases of residential property up to £500,000. The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band.

Non-residential property

The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band.

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax

Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) is payable on land and property transactions in Scotland.

Residential property

The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band.

Rates may be increased by 4% (3% prior to 25 January 2019) where further residential properties, costing over £40,000, are acquired.

First-time buyer relief raises the zero tax threshold for first-time buyers from £145,000 to £175,000.

Non-residential property

The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band. Different rates and bands applied prior to 25 January 2019.

Land Transaction Tax

Land Transaction Tax (LTT) is payable on land and property transactions in Wales.

Residential property

The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band. Rates may be increased by 3% where further residential properties, costing over £40,000, are acquired.

Non-residential property

The rates apply to the portion of the total value which falls within each band.

Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS)

The Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) provides tax relief for individuals prepared to invest in new and growing companies. Investors can obtain generous income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) breaks for their investment and companies can use the relief to attract additional investment to develop their business. Individuals are entitled to relief on investments in certain unquoted trading companies through EIS. A junior version of EIS the SEIS is also available.

Maximum investment per annum: £1,000,000

Additional investment limit where investing in knowledge-intensive companies: £1,000,000

Income tax relief: 30%

CGT treatment on disposal if held for 3 years: Exempt

Capital gains from the disposal of other assets may be deferred by making an EIS investment.

Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS)

The Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) provides tax relief for individuals prepared to invest in new and growing companies. Investors can obtain generous income tax and capital gains tax (CGT) breaks for their investment and companies can use the relief to attract additional investment to develop their business. SEIS is a junior version of EIS.

Maximum investment per annum: £100,000

Income tax relief: 50%

CGT treatment on disposal if held for 3 years: Exempt

An individual who makes a capital gain on another asset and uses the amount of the gain to make a SEIS investment will not pay tax on 50% of the gain (subject to certain conditions).

Social Investment Relief (SIR)

Social Investment Relief (SIR) is designed to encourage private individuals to invest in social enterprises including charities. Individuals are entitled to relief on their investment:

Maximum investment per annum: £1,000,000

Income tax relief: 30%

CGT treatment on disposal if held for 3 years: Exempt

Capital gains from the disposal of other assets may be deferred by making a SIR investment.

Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs)

Venture Capital Trusts (VCTs) are designed to encourage private individuals to invest in smaller high-risk unquoted trading companies. VCTs operate by indirect investment through a mediated fund. In effect they are very like the investment trusts that are obtainable on the stock exchange, albeit in a high-risk environment. Individuals are entitled to relief on investments in VCTs.

Maximum investment per annum: £200,000

Income tax relief: 30%

Dividend income: Exempt

Capital gains treatment on disposal: Exempt

Car Benefit

The car benefit is calculated by multiplying the car’s list price, when new, by a percentage linked to the car’s CO₂ emissions.

For diesel cars generally add a 4% supplement (unless the car is registered on or after 1 September 2017 and meets the Euro 6d emissions standard). The overall maximum percentage is capped at 37%.

The list price includes accessories.

The list price is reduced for capital contributions made by the employee up to £5,000.

Special rules may apply to cars provided for disabled employees.

For cars registered before 1 January 1998 and cars with no agreed CO₂ emissions the charge is based on engine size.

2019/20:

2018/19:

Note…

1. Round down to nearest 5gm/km for values above 95

Car Fuel Benefit

Car fuel benefit applies if an employee has the benefit of private fuel for a company car.

The benefit is calculated by applying the percentage used to calculate the car benefit by a ‘fuel charge multiplier’.

The charge is proportionately reduced if provision of private fuel ceases part way through the year. The fuel benefit is reduced to nil only if the employee pays for all private fuel.

Fuel charge multiplier: £24,100 (2018/19: £23,400)

Van Benefit

Van benefit is chargeable if the van is available for an employee’s private use.

A fuel benefit may also be chargeable if an employee has the benefit of private fuel paid for in respect of a company van.

The charges do not apply to vans if a ‘restricted private use condition’ is met throughout the year.

A reduced benefit charge may apply to vans which cannot emit CO₂ when driven.

Van benefit: £3,430 (2018/19: £3,350)

Fuel benefit: £655 (2018/19: £633)

Advisory Fuel Rates for Company Cars

Advisory rates only apply where employers reimburse employees for business travel in a company car or require employees to repay the cost of fuel used for private travel in a company car. If the rate paid per mile of business travel is no higher than the advisory rate for the particular engine size and fuel type of the car, HMRC will accept that there is no taxable profit and no Class 1 NIC liability.

From 1 September 2019:

Petrol

Diesel

LPG

Notes…

1. Hybrid cars are treated as either petrol or diesel cars for this purpose.

Mileage Allowance Payments (MAPs) for Employees

MAPs represent the maximum tax free mileage allowances an employee can receive from their employer for using their own vehicle for business journeys.

An employer is allowed to pay an employee a certain amount of MAPs each year without having to report payments to HMRC.

If the employee receives less than the statutory rate, tax relief can be claimed on the difference.

2019/20 and 2018/19: