Latest Blogs
-
Lisa Webster: Till pensions do us part
There have been some fluctuations in recent years but overall divorce rates in the UK have been in decline since the 1990s.
-
Tilley: Let’s end the SIPP vs SSAS debate for good
As you might know from my previous columns on SIPPs Professional, I am, and have been for some time, a huge advocate for Small Self-Administered Schemes (SSAS).
-
Lisa Webster: Pre-Budget withdrawals are spiking again
Ever since “tax-free cash” changed its official name to “pension commencement lump sum” back in 2006 there have been pre-Budget rumours that it was going to change – and not for the better.
-
Tilley: Will Pensions Dashboards be a missed opportunity?
I can’t be alone in thinking that the recent House of Lords committee sessions on the Finance Bill and, in particular, discussion on bringing unused pension pots into scope for inheritance tax (IHT) made for interesting viewing.
-
Lisa Webster: A tiny step forward on IHT and pensions
Last month I talked about the headaches and liabilities of being a personal representative (PR) for a deceased’s estate when pensions are included for inheritance tax (IHT) purposes from 6 April 2027.
Popular News
-
Scottish SIPP firm among 13 in default
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), the industry-funded consumer compensation body, declared 13 regulated firms in default between August and November, including a Scottish SIPP firm, it reported this week.
-
HNWIs face IHT risk by not recording gifts
Nearly half (45%) of HNWIs have no written record of what they’ve gifted to loved ones, according to new research, leaving them at risk of falling foul of IHT rules.
Savings sector trade body TISA and fintech Altus have launched an online self-assessment tool, the Vulnerability Radar, to help firms “understand and identify” how to support vulnerable customers.
SIPP and SSAS provider Curtis Banks has called for the protection of pension tax relief in the Budget on 11 March amid concerns relief could be chopped back or axed.
Retirement and protection specialist LV= has move to a tiered charging structure on its personal pension which will favour largers sums invested.
HMRC says that a ‘record breaking’ 11.1m taxpayers beat the 31 January tax return deadline but 958,000 still missed the cut off date.
The FCA has stressed that there will be no changes to its rules and regulations despite the UK exiting the EU tonight at 11 pm (31 January).
Following Brexit the UK will enter an implementation period which is due to last until 31 December.
The watchdog said that during this implementation period EU law will continue to apply and firms and funds will continue to benefit from passporting between the UK and EEA countries.
Consumer rights and protections under EU law will also remain in place.
In guidance to regulated firms the FCA said: “There will therefore be no changes to the reporting obligations for firms, including those for MiFIR transaction reporting, under EMIR, and for CRAs, which will continue in line with existing EU regulatory requirements.”
The windows for EEA firms to notify the FCA that they want to use the Temporary Permissions Regime (TPR), or for fund managers to notify the regulator of any funds they want to continue to market in the UK under the Temporary Marketing Permissions Regime (TMPR), closed yesterday (30 January).
Andrew Bailey, FCA chief executive, said: “The work the FCA has undertaken, along with government and the Bank of England, ensured the financial services sector was one of the best prepared industries for any of the possible Brexit outcomes.
“The implementation period gives firms a period of certainty while negotiations are continuing on our future relationship with the EU.”
He said the FCA would use the implementation period to work with government, the Bank of England, firms and other regulators to ensure the financial services industry is ready for the end of 2020.
The FCA has, however, urged firms to prepare now for actions to ensure that post 1 January 2021 they minimise risks to customers.
The FCA provides regular updates on its Brexit webpages, and firms can also call the FCA Brexit information line (0800 048 4255).
The parent company of Transact, the SIPP and platform provider, has been hit with an unexpected £4.3m VAT bill which could also see the company having to pay an additional £1.4m a year in VAT.