Autumn Statement 2014: surprise
announcements on restriction of Entrepreneur's Relief on incorporation and new
Stamp Duty Banding.
Income Tax
Personal allowance increased to
£10,600 for 2015/16 (a £100 increase on the previously stated £10.500).
Higher rate threshold to be increased
to £42,385 from April 2015.
NI upper earnings and upper profit
limits will increase in line with the higher rate threshold
Confirmed no changes to come into
effect before April 2017, relating to restricting the personal allowance for
non-residents. Any changes will be subject to further consultation.
Remittance Basis
In the next Parliament, the
remittance charge for non-UK domiciled individuals is set to increase for
longer UK residence. The basic charge of £30,000 will remain unchanged, but
for non-doms who have been resident in the UK for 12 out of the past
14 years, it will be increased to £60,000, and for those UK resident for 17 of
the previous 20 years, it will increase to £90,000.
Pensions
From April 2015, the 55% tax charge
on inherited pensions is withdrawn, allowing unused pension pots to be passed
on tax free.
Joint life or guaranteed term
annuities will also be able to be passed on tax free where death occurs before
age 75.
Corporation Tax
Creative sector reliefs
Reliefs extended to include a new
children’s TC tax relief from April 2015.
Consultation announced to introduce a
new orchestra relief from April 2016.
R&D Relief
Tax credit for small and medium
companies increased from 225% to 230%
and the credit will be increased from 10% to 11% from 1
April 2015.
From 1 April 2015, the costs of
materials incorporated in products that are sold will be excluded from relief.
New advanced assurance scheme to be
introduced for small businesses making their first claim and new guidance to be
developed.
Employers and employees
Government to review the use of
employment intermediaries ‘umbrella companies’ with a view to introducing
possible counteraction measures in Budget 2015.
In addition to the removal of NIC’s
form under 21’s from April 2015, with effect from April 2016, employers
will not have to pay NI contributions for apprentices aged under 25
earning up to the Upper Earnings Limit.
From April 2015 the £2,000 annual NI
‘Employment Allowance’ is extended to households that employ care and support
workers.
Proposals to introduce a new form of
employee shareholding vehicle in order to reduce the costs for employee
controlled companies have been shelved for the time being. Consultation
revealed a lack of interest amongst employers and share scheme specialists.
Plans to change the definition of marketable securities have also gone back to
the drawing board.
Capital Gains Tax
NEW – Entrepreneurs Relief (ER)
will no longer be available on the disposal of goodwill on transfer of a business
to a related close company (incorporation). The measure has effect for
transfers on or after 3 December 2014.
ER will now be allowed where a
qualifying gain, which has been deferred into investments qualifying for
Enterprise Investment Relief (EIS) and Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR), is
subsequently realised.
Stamp Duty
NEW - Significant changes to the
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) regime
The old rules whereby the rate of
SDLT would be determined by the purchase price of the property and applied to it
in full (known as the ‘slab’ system) has been abolished with effect from 4
December 2014.
The new rules introduce a banding
system whereby the SDLT is determined by the rate applicable to the amount of
the overall purchase price which falls within a given band (akin to the current
income tax system)
The new bandings and rates are;
0
-125,000
|
0%
|
125,001
– 250,000
|
2%
|
250,001
– 925,000
|
5%
|
925,001
-1,550,000
|
10%
|
1,500,001
and over
|
12%
|
Transitional provisions are in place
where contracts have been exchanged but not completed, which allow the
purchaser to choose whether to apply the old or new rules.
Enveloped properties
From 1 April 2015 the Annual Tax on
Enveloped Dwellings (ATED) will be increased;
£2m-£5m
|
£23,350
|
£5m-£10m
|
£54,450
|
£10m-£20m
|
£109,050
|
£20m
and over
|
£218,200
|
VAT
From April 2015, search and rescue
and air ambulance charities will be eligible for VAT refunds, and hospice
charities will also receive refunds for VAT incurred.
Inheritance Tax
The government will not introduce a single
settlement nil-rate band for trusts, but will target avoidance through the use
of multiple trusts in Finance Bill 2015.
IHT exemption for members of armed
forces extended to members of emergency services and humanitarian aid workers
responding to emergency situations.
Others
ISA’s
ISA limit increased to £15,240
with effect from April 2015.Junior ISA and Child Trust Fund limits increased to
£4,080.
From 3 December 2014, an ISA holder
can pass their ISA benefit to their spouse or civil partner on death. The
additional ISA allowance will be equal to the value of the savers ISA holdings
at the date of their death. This is in addition to thesurvivor’s own
normal ISA limits.
Business Rates
‘High street discount’ increased from
£1,000 to £1,500 from April 2015 to March 2016.
Small Business Rate Relief doubled
for a further year.
Check these resources for more information:
