Tax Advisers
The following advisers all have the relevant specialist expertise. Their profiles include their contact details, background, specific expertise and other specialisms
A Family Investment Company is a UK company that is typically used as an alternative to a family trust. These companies typically hold and manage a family's investments so as to protect and pass wealth down the generations whilst minimising inheritance tax. This allows parents and grandparents to retain control over assets whilst accumulating wealth in a tax efficient manner and facilitating future succession planning.
Before 2006 it was much more common to use trusts to do this in the UK. But tax changes introduced that year led to Family Investment Companies (FICs) becoming a popular alternative option - in the right circumstances.
Since then FICs have become increasingly popular as an alternative to trusts so as to avoid those additional tax charges.
In 2021 HMRC's research into the use of FICs found "no evidence" of correlation between those who set up FICs and tax avoidance. And the special unit set up in 2019 to conduct this research was closed down.
The clear implication is that FICs are now accepted by HMRC as a legitimate form of tax planning to facilitate acceptable tax avoidance and Inheritance tax mitigation - as long as those involved are fully compliant.
FICs are not the solution in every case and do carry some disadvantages that you will need to balance against the tax saving opportunities.
The issues to consider when setting up a family investment company and keeping it compliant include: Rates of corporation tax (now and into the future), taxes on capital gains, dividends and distributions from the company, withholding tax on overseas dividends received by the company, tax relief for interest, management expenses, company running costs, accounting and reporting obligations, taxation of the shareholders as well as who should hold the shares and how these should be valued.
The following advisers all have the relevant specialist expertise. Their profiles include their contact details, background, specific expertise and other specialisms
The following tax accountants are all willing to assist with simpler questions on this topic and to help you complete tax returns. Their profiles include contact details and other key information.
These Tax Advisers and Tax Accountants specialise in Family investment companies issues.
We'd love to send you a quick note re tax advice and tips so please let us know who you are before you choose your tax adviser.