6th April reminders – planning ahead

Tax year 'beginning' planning can be just as valuable as its more familiar year end counterpart

The run up to 5 April, with the Budget (and often Easter) intervening, can be a frenetic time for personal financial planning. All tends to go quiet once the new tax year begins, but the reality is that there are many planning points that are worth considering at the start of the tax year rather than leaving it until the end.

ISA contributions (£20,000 maximum in 2017/18) are best made at the start of the year rather than the end, as it means the tax benefits are enjoyed for nearly a year longer.

A similar argument applies to pension contributions, although if your income for the year ahead is uncertain, the case for delay is stronger.

The dividend allowance is £5,000 per tax year, so it is worth checking early on how much dividend income you are likely to receive and whether that prompts any investment changes. If you are married or in a civil partnership, that might mean transferring assets between the two of you.

Similar considerations of who holds what apply to deposit accounts and the personal savings allowance of up to £1,000 a year each.

The many thresholds built into the income tax system are a driver to working out what might be your total income in the tax year as soon as possible. If you know in April you are likely to be near a threshold by next March, you have that much more time to plan accordingly.

If you would like a tax year ‘beginning’ review of tax and savings planning, please get in touch – don’t leave it until next March.

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