Question
You received a schedule from Lucee, a new client of your firm. The schedule from your manager detailing the work he requires you to do
You received a schedule from Lucee, a new client of your firm. The schedule from your manager detailing the work he requires you to do are set out below.
Schedule from Lucee dated 4 September 2018
I am resident and domiciled in the UK. My husband, David, moved to the UK in January 2013 and we married in
June 2014. David is resident in the UK but domiciled in the country of Riviera. I have a 16-year-old son, Oder, who
is resident and domiciled in the UK.
My fathers London house
My father died on 1 June 2018 and I inherited his London house. The house had a value for probate purposes of
390,000, but is now worth 450,000. My father purchased the house for 130,000 in 1984. I intend to sell
the house as soon as possible.
Investment plan in respect of the proceeds from the sale of the London house
I plan to invest the 450,000 proceeds as follows:
300,000, purchase of UK shares; and
150,000, cash deposit in the UK.
Alternative investment plan
It has been suggested to me by a friend (who is a tax adviser) that I should consider an alternative investment plan,
which would result in a lower income tax liability for me and my family.
Under my friends suggestion I would give 150,000 of the sales proceeds from the London house to David, leaving
me with 300,000. We would then each invest two-thirds of our respective funds in shares with the remaining
third left on cash deposit.
I would like to know what the income tax saving would be if I followed my friends advice rather than my original
plan.
Gift to Oder
I am also considering making a cash gift to Oder of 20,000 out of my existing funds (i.e. not from the proceeds
from the sale of the London house). Oder would place this amount on cash deposit.
Our annual income
I set out below our current annual income
The bank interest and dividends are in respect of cash deposits and shares all of which are held within ISAs. We
invest the maximum possible amount into ISAs on 1 May each year.
Oder has no income. None of us have made any previous chargeable gains.
Lucee David
Annual income
Employment income 170,000 18,000
Bank interest (within ISA) 1,500 1,200
Dividends (within ISA) 2,500 1,800
Tax-efficient investments
I have considered investing in enterprise investment scheme (EIS) shares but have not done so due to the high level
of risk involved. However, I understand that venture capital trusts (VCTs) have a lower level of risk.
Please let me have a comparison of the income tax implications of these two forms of investment on the assumption
that I will invest 50,000 in the tax year 2018/19. I do not know for how long I will want to hold these shares.
Thank you
Lucee
Email from your manager dated 4 September 2018
Please prepare notes for me to use in a meeting with Lucee. The notes should cover the following:
(a) Minimising income tax on investment income
When carrying out this work you should assume:
1. The shares purchased will yield a 4% return per annum and the cash deposits will yield a 1% return per
annum.
2. The whole of the 450,000 will be available to invest, i.e. Lucee will pay any capital gains tax due in respect
of the sale of the London house out of her existing funds.
3. None of the investments will consist of either enterprise investment scheme (EIS) shares or venture capital
trust (VCT) shares.
Calculations of the income tax saving which would be achieved in a complete tax year if Lucee were to
follow her friends advice and give 150,000 of the proceeds from the sale of the London house to David
in accordance with the alternative investment plan.
To do this efficiently, you should just calculate the additional tax payable by Lucee and David on the income
generated by the inherited funds, rather than preparing complete income tax computations.
To save you some time, I have already calculated that if Lucee invested the whole of the 450,000 herself,
she would incur an additional income tax liability in respect of the bank interest and dividend income for
a complete tax year of 3,342.
It seems to me that the total income tax liability of Lucee and David could be reduced further whilst still
retaining the fundamentals of Lucees alternative investment plan. Lucee would still give David 150,000 but,
rather than each of them investing 2/3 of their funds in shares and leaving the remainder on cash deposit,
the total investment of 300,000 in shares and 150,000 in cash deposits would be split between them
in a different way.
Set out the factors which are relevant to obtaining a more income tax-efficient split of the total investment.
You should only consider the income tax positions of Lucee and David and the nature of the proposed
investments. I do not require you to produce calculations of any potential tax savings.
The matters to be considered in relation to income tax in respect of the proposed gift of 20,000 to Oder.
(b) Gift to David
By reference to Davids domicile status, explain why Lucees proposed gift of 150,000 to David could result
in an inheritance tax liability and how this potential liability might be avoided.
You should note that Lucee gave David a half interest in her home on 1 August 2014. The value of this gift
was 600,000.
Calculations in order to show the capital gains tax saving which would be achieved if Lucee were to give
David a one-third interest in the London house prior to its sale (as opposed to cash of 150,000 following
its sale).
(c) Tax-efficient investments
A comparison of the income tax implications for Lucee of investing 50,000 in either EIS shares or VCT
shares as requested.
1A. CALCULATE THE INHERITANCE TAX IMPLICATIONS FOR LUCEE's GIFT OF 150,000.
AS PER UK TAX LAWS 2018
Step by Step Solution
There are 3 Steps involved in it
Step: 1
Get Instant Access to Expert-Tailored Solutions
See step-by-step solutions with expert insights and AI powered tools for academic success
Step: 2
Step: 3
Ace Your Homework with AI
Get the answers you need in no time with our AI-driven, step-by-step assistance
Get Started