HMRC has kindly published a list of the tax changes that affect individuals from 6th April 2015. I have reproduced the list below.

  • Individuals over the age of 55 have flexible access to their defined contribution pension savings.
  • The Income Tax Personal Allowance increases to £10,600.
  • The higher rate Income Tax threshold increases to £42,385.
  • The new Marriage Allowance comes into effect.
  • The starting rate of savings Income Tax reduces from 10% to 0% for savings up to £5,000.
  • The cash ISA limit increases to £15,240.
  • Child Trust Funds can now be transferred into Junior ISAs.
  • Spouses can now inherit their deceased partner’s ISA benefits.
  • If an individual dies before the age of 75, they can now pass on their unused defined contribution pension savings free of Income Tax.
  • Beneficiaries of individuals who die under the age of 75 with a joint life or guaranteed term annuity can now receive any future payments from such policies free of Income Tax.
  • Employers will no longer have to pay employer NICs for employees under the age of 21.
  • Class 2 NICs for the self-employed can now be collected through Self Assessment.
  • The Employment Allowance extends to include people employing care and support workers to look after themselves or family members.
  • A new annual remittance basis charge of £90,000 is introduced for non-domiciled individuals who have been resident in the UK in at least 17 of the last 20 years, and the charge paid by non-domiciled individuals who have been resident in the UK in at least 12 of the last 14 years has increased from £50,000 to £60,000.
  • Non-UK resident individuals, trusts, personal representatives and narrowly controlled companies are now subject to Capital Gains Tax on gains accruing on the disposal of UK residential property.
  • Capital Gains Tax annual exemption amount has increased to £11,100.
  • The Capital Gains Tax charge on disposals of properties liable to ATED extends to cover residential properties worth £1 million – £2 million.
  • The requirement that 70% of Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme money must be spent before EIS or VCT funding can be raised is removed.
  • The Fuel Benefit Charge multiplier for both cars and vans increases by RPI.
  • The Van Benefit Charge increases by RPI. In 2015-16 the Van Benefit Charge rate paid by zero emission vans is 20% of the rate paid by conventionally fuelled vans.
  • Tax Credit payments are stopped in-year where, due to a change in circumstances, a claimant has already received their full annual entitlement.

If you need more information regarding any of these changes please call.