The Chancellor’s 2014 Budget was clearly aimed at winning the votes of savers, pensioners and those paying for expensive childcare. Increases in ISA
limits, a £5,000 zero rate band on savings income, more flexible pension drawdown rules and an increase in the proposed childcare tax relief to £2,000
reflect this goal. There was also good news for businesses with the extension of the Annual Investment Allowance until 31 December 2015 and an increase in
the qualifying spend up to £500,000 from April 2014.
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| George Osborne - Chancellor's Budget 2014 |
1. Personal Allowances
Personal allowances are fixed for 2014/15 at £10,000, the level promised in the Coalition Agreement. However, the Budget announced that there will be a
further (above inflation) increase to £10,500 for 2015/16, in line with the allowance currently available to taxpayers aged 65 to 74. Those aged 75 and
over will continue to receive a personal allowance of £10,660. Note that if adjusted net income exceeds £100,000, the personal allowance is reduced by £1
for every £2 over £100,000. This gives an effective rate of 60% on income between £100,000 and £120,000 for 2014/15. Contact us for planning advice to
avoid this 60% rate.
2. Income Tax Bands
The 20% basic rate band is £31,865 for 2014/15 and will be £31,785 for 2015/16. This means that you pay 40% tax if your taxable income exceeds £41,865 for
2014/15 and £42,285 for 2015/16.
The 45% top rate continues to apply to taxable income over £150,000 for 2014/15.
3. Important Changes To ISAs
In order to encourage savers, the current £11,520 ISA limit is to be significantly increased to £15,000 from 1 July 2014. Furthermore, the current 50% cash
ISA limit of £5,760 is to be abolished so that any combination of cash and stocks and shares can be held within the ISA wrapper up to the overall £15,000
limit. These products will be termed “New ISAs” or NISAs. The Junior ISA limit will increase to £4,000 from 1 July 2014.
4. More Good News For Savers
The 10% starting rate will apply to the first £2,880 of savings income for 2014/15. However, this rate will be abolished and replaced with a zero rate on
the first £5,000 of savings income from 2015/16 onwards.
5. Capital Taxes
It had already been announced that the CGT annual exempt amount would increase to £11,000 for 2014/15 and £11,100 for 2015/16. With a top CGT rate of 28%,
this allowance potentially saves just over £3,000 a year, or £6,000 for a married couple.
There has been no change in the inheritance tax nil rate band, which remains at £325,000 until 2018.
Please contact us if you wish to discuss capital gains tax and inheritance tax planning, as we can help you take advantage of these valuable allowances.
The only significant change to inheritance tax is the proposed extension in the exemption that applies to the military who die on active service to those
in the emergency services.
6. New Flexible Pensions
There are significant changes being proposed which will make it easier to access your pension fund pot if you have a defined contribution (money purchase)
pension scheme. As a general rule, 25% of the pension fund can be taken as a tax free lump sum at age 55, although this age will be increased in future to
be 10 years before State Pension age (age 57 in 2028). Remember also that the requirement to buy an annuity at age 75 had already been abolished with the
introduction of “flexible drawdown” pensions that are currently available.
From 27 March 2014 the Government have increased the maximum amount you can take out each year from a capped drawdown arrangement from 120% to 150% of an
equivalent annuity. For example, if the equivalent annuity rate is 6%, then up to 9% of the fund can now be drawn down each year. This is in response to
concerns about low annuity rates which are linked to savings rates.
The Government has published a consultation document to consider proposals to make the drawdown rules even more flexible from April 2015. This would allow
you to withdraw more than the current 25% of the fund limit, subject to a tax charge. This charge would be at your marginal tax rate instead of the current
penal 55% charge on the fund.
The other significant change being consulted on is the proposal to reduce the current limit of £20,000 guaranteed pension income to just £12,000 a year.
Those with this level of guaranteed pension income will be able to draw as much or as little as they wish from their pension fund each year without the
150% of equivalent annuity rule applying.
7. Corporation Tax Reductions
From 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015, the main rate of corporation tax is 21% where a company’s profits exceed £1,500,000 (divided by companies under common
control). The 20% small profits rate continues to apply to companies with profits up to £300,000 (also divided as above). As previously announced, a single
corporation tax rate of 20% will apply from April 2015 whatever your level of profits.
8. Annual Investment Allowance Increased To £500,000
The Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) provides a 100% tax write off for the cost of most plant and machinery acquired by businesses, a notable exception
being motor cars. This allowance was temporarily increased to £250,000 on 1 January 2013 and was due to reduce back down to just £25,000 on 1 January 2015.
The Chancellor has announced that the allowance will be increased to £500,000 per annum for expenditure incurred between 1 April 2014 and 31 December 2015
(the change takes effect from 6 April 2014 for unincorporated businesses). Remember that the AIA is available for assets bought on hire purchase as well as
those bought for cash. It can also be claimed in respect of fixtures and fittings within buildings. Contact us to help you maximise tax relief for capital
expenditure, as the timing of expenditure can be critical.
9. R&D Tax Credit Rate Increased
Companies that are small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) carrying out qualifying research and development can currently claim a corporation tax
deduction of 225% of their qualifying spend. This means that £100,000 spend would result in a £225,000 reduction in taxable profits, potentially saving
£45,000 corporation tax (at 20%). However, if the company is loss making this benefit may not be received until future years when profits are made. In
order to improve the cash flow of these loss- making SMEs, the tax rules allow the company to surrender the loss attributable to the enhanced R&D spend
for a tax refund. This has been increased from 11% to 14.5% with effect from 1 April 2014. So the £225,000 (based on £100,000 spend) would result in a
refund of £32,625. Contact us if you would like to discuss whether your company could qualify for R&D tax relief.
10. New Tax-Free Childcare Scheme
This new scheme, which starts in Autumn 2015, was originally announced in 2013 as being worth up to £1,200 per child. It has now been announced that the
Government support will be even more generous with the limit being increased to £2,000 per child per year. The parents will be required to open a special
childcare account. If for example they pay in £8,000, the Government will top this up to £10,000 (like pension contributions and Gift Aid) which can then
be used to pay their childcare provider. It is not just parents who will be able to pay into the childcare account but grandparents and other family
members will also be able to contribute to the childcare costs. To qualify, both parents will have to be in work, earning just over an average of £50 a
week and not more than £150,000 per year.
Unlike the existing employer-provided childcare voucher scheme which is only available to employees and directors, this new scheme will also be available
to the self-employed. Those in existing employer provided schemes have the option of staying in their employer scheme (up to £55 a week free of tax and
NIC) or switching to the new scheme. To support newly self-employed parents, the government is introducing a ‘start-up’ period. During this, self-employed
parents won’t have to earn the £50 a week minimum income.
It was originally proposed that the new scheme would be phased in, initially only applying to children under 5 and gradually extended to those under 12. It
is now proposed that children under 12 will be eligible from the outset. If your circumstances change or you no longer want to pay into the account, you’ll
be able to withdraw the money you have built up. If you do, the Government will withdraw its corresponding contribution.
11. Vat Registration Limit £81,000
The VAT registration limit has been increased by £2,000 to £81,000 from 1 April 2014. The de-registration limit also increased by £2,000 to £79,000.
12. Seed Eis Relief To Be Permanent
Seed EIS was introduced in 2012/13 to provide tax relief for individuals investing in small start-up companies and was originally scheduled to end on 5
April 2017. It was announced in the Budget that the generous tax breaks would now be made permanent:
- A 50% tax reducer on up to £100,000 invested each tax year
- A 50p reduction in capital gains made for every £1 qualifying Seed EIS investmen
Contact us if you need advice on these and other
tax-efficient investments.
Stay tuned to our blog for more UK Accounting news and information.
