Recent Features and Opinion – Page 4
-
FeatureStaking a claim
We’ve all seen adverts urging us to claim for mis-sold payment protection insurance, and how easy the process is. But is it as simple once someone has died? Paul Saunders explains what options are open to those administering an estate
-
FeatureBack to basics: Deeds of variation and disclaimers
Deeds of variation and disclaimers can prove useful tools to redirect dispositions in a will. Angharad Lynn reviews the basics
-
FeatureUp to standard
Trustees have completed their second year of reporting under the Common Reporting Standard, but issues remain. Yasmin Metcalfe details this, and other updates that trustees need to be aware of, including the interaction between the Standard and the General Data Protection Regulation
-
FeatureIt begins at home?
Building trust with charity legacy professionals, better Law Society leadership and tackling will-making misconceptions are all needed to encourage solicitors to discuss charitable giving with clients, according to a roundtable led by the Private Client Section. Duncan Wood reports
-
FeatureBack to basics: Working with farming accountants
Julie Butler and Fred Butler offer advice on the farm ownership structure and providing for strong succession planning.
-
FeatureTake my advice
Huge changes are afoot in the financial advice industry; it is becoming more difficult to keep up with regulatory change and identify the right advice firm for your client. Stephen Kavanagh lists the issues you should consider to ensure you make the best choices
-
FeatureArtistic legacy
The estates of artists, writers and other creative people throw up many issues, from the division of rights to preserving their reputation after death. Helen Citron and Robert Craig describe how the will-drafter can play a crucial role in ensuring things go smoothly
-
FeatureParadise lost
The Panama Papers leak from one of the world’s largest offshore law firms has led to a hardening of attitudes towards tax avoiders – and that arguably includes many lawyers, who are deemed complicit in the actions of their clients. Diana Bentley looks at how the landscape has changed.
-
FeatureDomicile effect
Government proposals for the taxation of non-domiciled individuals who have been long-term UK residents have been scrapped, reversed and postponed, leading to a whirlwind of changes taking effect retrospectively from 6 April 2017. Annie Bouch outlines some of the key changes
-
FeatureLay of the land
Land transaction tax, the first new Welsh tax in 800 years, is set to replace stamp duty land tax in Wales from 1 April 2018. Andrew Evans explains how it will work in practice
-
FeatureBack to Basics: Annual tax compliance in probate cases
Simon Leney and Jane Hodge look at final lifetime income and capital gains tax returns and estate returns
-
FeatureGuilt by association
As of 30 September, there is a corporate offence of failure to prevent the criminal facilitation of tax evasion. This brings a risk of criminal liability to solicitors’ firms for not only their employees’ actions, but also the actions of others with whom they are associated. Stuart Adams explains.
-
FeatureCaught in the net
The annual tax on enveloped dwellings applies to UK residential properties held in corporate envelopes and carries yearly reporting obligations. Simon Leney identifies the tax’s traps.
-
FeatureMark your words
Drafting errors which affect the inheritance tax position can be costly for both solicitor and client. However, there are opportunities to correct things, explains Sarah Harrison
-
-
FeatureRate of knots
At the Private Client Section annual conference, Chris Whitehouse gave an update on capital tax planning after the 2017 budget, focusing in particular on the complexities of the new residence nil-rate band
-
FeatureWorkshop: IHT and the family home
Delegates at the conference could choose between five workshops, run twice over the course of the day. Jo Summers rounds up her workshop
-
FeatureNew criminal offence of failure to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion
A new corporate criminal offence of failing to prevent the facilitation of tax evasion comes into force on 30 September - yet many still seem not to know about it. In advance of a longer article in the November edition of PS, Stuart Adams explains why private client practitioners must ...
-
FeatureBack to Basics: Funding of care fees
Melinda Giles and Fiona Heald outline the three main ways government will assist with care fees for a person going into care – through the local authority; NHS continuing healthcare; and section 117 funding – and explain when it is possible to claim, how to claim, and what is and ...
-
FeatureAt your discretion
Some commentators have suggested people will not be able to benefit from the new residence nil-rate band allowance if they include discretionary trusts in their wills. But Stephen C Haggett argues that flexible will trusts are still an invaluable part of estate planning