Billingshurst. West Sussex, RH14 9SJ Tel: 01403 780 770 Fax: 01403 780 771 Email: info@medicsfs.com Medics Financial Services are a trading style of Global Financial Ltd which is a member of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Company registered in England 992704. Registered ofce: Global House, Daux Road, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 9SJ. Independent Financial Planners
F A C T S H E E T
R E T I R E M E N T MINIMISING POTENTIAL TAXES AND DUTIES ON YOUR DEATH IMMEDIATE ACCESS TO YOUR PENSION FUNDS, ALLOWING YOU TO TAKE OUT WHAT YOU WANT, WHEN YOU WANT IT As your wealth grows, it is inevitable that your estate becomes more complex. With over 400,000 people now expected to reach age 75 each year [1], more and more people could be faced with a 55 per cent tax charge on any money left in their pension fund when they die. Free of any death tax Money saved via a pension can be passed on to a loved one, usually outside their estate and free of any death tax, provided the pension fund has not been touched and they die before age 75. People fortunate enough not to need immediate access to their personal pension may therefore decide not to touch those savings for as long as possible. However, once someone reaches age 75, the death beneft rules change dramatically and their entire pension fund may become subject to a 55 per cent tax charge on death. This means it can become a race against time for many individuals to reduce the impact of this charge. Flexible drawdown lifeline It can take years to move money out of the 55 per cent death tax environment using capped income withdrawals due to the set limits on the amount that can be withdrawn each year. A lifeline can, however, come in the form of fexible drawdown. Flexible drawdown can provide people with immediate access to their pension funds, allowing them to take out what they want, when they want it. Flexible drawdown is only available to people who are already receiving 20,000 p.a. minimum guaranteed pension income which can include their state pension entitlement. For individuals who wish to leave as much as possible to their benefciaries, taking income from their pension and gifting it to their benefciaries under the normal expenditure rules will allow certain amounts of money to be passed to their benefciaries outside their estate. Passing money outside the estate This may be more tax-effcient than suffering the 55 per cent death tax charge, or the 40 per cent Inheritance Tax charge if the money is simply brought into their estate. Any money taken out under fexible drawdown will be subject to income tax, so higher rate tax payers need to be careful to ensure the money is either passed on outside their estate tax-effectively or that their estate is within the annual IHT allowance of 325,000 (2013/14). This may be particularly relevant for people who are approaching, or who have already reached, their 75th birthday, especially as many older pension arrangements will not allow pension savings to continue to be held beyond that date. Younger people who have accessed their pension fund, even if its just to take the lump sum cash, could also be at risk of the 55 per cent death tax, and could beneft from moving funds out of this environment as effciently as possible. As your wealth grows, it is inevitable that your estate becomes more complex. Medics Financial Services Global House, Daux Road Billingshurst. West Sussex, RH14 9SJ Tel: 01403 780 770 Fax: 01403 780 771 Email: info@medicsfs.com Medics Financial Services are a trading style of Global Financial Ltd which is a member of Best Practice IFA Group Ltd which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Company registered in England 992704. Registered ofce: Global House, Daux Road, Billingshurst, West Sussex RH14 9SJ. Independent Financial Planners
F A C T S H E E T
R E T I R E M E N T Want to investigate the opportunities available to you? The benefts of fexible drawdown should not be underestimated. Putting off accessing your pension income could store up problems when you reach age 75. But once someone does access their pension fund, regardless of age, fexible drawdown can dramatically help with estate planning. To investigate the opportunities available to you, please contact us today. Source [1] Offce of National Statistics, fgures from 2011 Census. Flexible drawdown is a complex product. If you are at all uncertain about its suitability for your circumstances you should seek professional nancial advice. Your income is not secure. Flexible drawdown can only be taken once you have nished saving into pensions. You control and must review where your pension is invested, and how much income you draw. Poor investment performance and excessive income withdrawals can deplete the fund. The fund value may uctuate and can go down as well as up. You may not get back your original investment. Past performance is not an indication of future performance. Tax benets may vary as a result of statutory change and their value will depend on individual circumstances. This is for your general information and use only and is not intended to address your particular requirements. It should not be relied upon in its entirety and shall not be deemed to be, or constitute, advice. Although endeavours have been made to provide accurate and timely information, Goldmine Media cannot guarantee that such information is accurate as of the date it is received or that it will continue to be accurate in the future. No individual or company should act upon such information without receiving appropriate professional advice after a thorough examination of their particular situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any loss as a result of acts or omissions taken in respect of any articles. Thresholds, percentage rates and tax legislation may change in subsequent Finance Acts. The benets of exible drawdown should not be underestimated. Putting off accessing your pension income could store up problems when you reach age 75.