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Tax planning

Tax planning means using the allowances you already have, in full and in the right order.

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Allowances and reliefs

ISA allowances
Returns inside an ISA are free of UK income tax and capital gains tax. The allowance is annual, it does not carry forward, and it resets every 5 April.
Pension contributions
Contributions attract tax relief at your marginal rate, subject to the annual allowance and your earnings.
Using both halves of a couple
Transfers between spouses and civil partners are generally exempt. Holding assets in the right name and using both sets of allowances is legitimate tax planning.
Capital gains timing
Realising gains across two tax years, offsetting losses and using the annual exempt amount can materially change the bill on the same underlying decision.
Inheritance tax exemptions
Annual gifting, small gifts, gifts on marriage and normal expenditure out of income all renew each year.
Taking money out of a company
You can take money out as salary, dividends or pension contributions, or leave it in the company. The mix changes the total tax paid substantially, and it is best decided with the accountant and the adviser together.

Tax year timetable

  1. 1

    Autumn review

    Look at contributions and allowances while there is still time to act on what you find.

  2. 2

    Decide before Christmas

    Make pension and ISA decisions with months of the tax year still to run.

  3. 3

    Use the gifting exemptions

    Use the gifting exemptions and keep a record of what went where.

  4. 4

    Check gains before selling

    Work out the capital gains position before you sell.

How this works with your accountant

We work alongside your accountant, whoever they are.

Questions people ask us

Is this tax avoidance?

No. Using an ISA, contributing to a pension or gifting within HMRC's stated exemptions is using the system as Parliament designed it.

Do you complete tax returns?

No. Your accountant files the return and we work with them on the planning. Buzz Accounting, a separate business, can do the filing if you do not have an accountant.

Can you help with tax on investments I already hold?

Yes. Moving holdings into ISAs over time, using the annual exempt amount, sequencing disposals and considering which spouse holds what can all reduce the tax you pay each year without changing the underlying investment strategy.

How often do the rules change?

Allowances, thresholds and reliefs can change at every Budget, and there is at least one Budget a year.

Should I put money in an ISA or a pension?

Pensions give tax relief going in, and ISAs can be reached at any time. The full answer.

Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and on current rules, both of which can change. The Financial Conduct Authority does not regulate tax advice.

In more detail

Selling or passing on your business

Since 6 April 2026 the relief on selling a business is 18%, and the inheritance tax relief on passing one on is capped at £2.5 million.

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Tax on savings interest

Interest from bank and building society accounts is taxable income. Three allowances decide how much of it you pay tax on.

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Budget 2026 and your pensions, ISAs and inheritance tax

The Budget on 28 October 2026 kept the cash ISA limit at £20,000, raised the tax on savings interest from April 2027 and cut the Business Asset Disposal Relief limit to £500,000. Pensions still come into inheritance tax on 6 April 2027.

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Calculators

Inheritance tax calculator

What your estate would pay as things stand, and which bands you can use.

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Online financial health check

Eight questions on retirement, protection, savings, your mortgage, your estate and your day-to-day money give a first score. The other 17 complete the written report.

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The advisers for this subject

Sunny Bharj

Sunny Bharj

Independent Financial Adviser

Tony Springer

Tony Springer

Independent Financial Adviser

Advising through Equity & General Financial Services Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Check the firm on the FCA register under number 474163.

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