End-of-year tax planning

Many UK investors reach a point where their Individual Savings Allowance (ISA) and pension allowances no longer offer enough room for long-term planning. When that happens, if you’ve already opened a general investment account (GIA), an offshore investment bond can be a helpful next step. It offers a tax‑efficient structure, flexibility around how and when gains become taxable, and options that can support family wealth and estate planning.

Many investors have already made full use of their individual savings accounts (ISAs) allowances before the end of the tax year. If that’s you, the good news is that there are still several ways to continue building long‑term wealth – while staying tax efficient.

Every so often, a change in legislation comes along that asks us to pause and reassess the fundamentals of financial planning. The government’s decision to include unused pension funds within inheritance tax (IHT) from 6 April 2027 is one of those moments. If you’ve seen headlines or heard snippets in the news, you may be wondering what this means for your retirement plans and the wealth you hope to pass on.

For people in their core wealth‑building years – typically their 30s and 40s – the tax landscape has shifted more in the past two years than in the previous decade. Recent Budgets have frozen key tax thresholds and introduced major changes to pensions, inheritance tax (IHT) and business reliefs. These aren’t distant, future issues. They influence how much income you keep, how quickly your wealth grows and how you plan ahead today.

Business Property Relief (BPR) can play an important role in inheritance tax (IHT) planning, particularly for business owners and investors in UK growth companies. It can reduce the value of certain business assets for IHT purposes, helping more of an estate pass to the next generation.

Tax planning is becoming increasingly important for high‑net‑worth individuals in 2026. While last November’s Budget appeared relatively modest in its immediate impact, earlier reforms now coming into effect could mean even wealthy families might experience rising tax pressure over the next few years.

Tax planning matters at every career stage, but for lawyers and accountants the stakes can rise quickly as earnings grow. The right decisions could help you keep more of what you earn, ease cash‑flow pressures and build long‑term financial security.

“Better together” is a phrase often used lightly, but when it comes to couples and their finances it couldn’t be more accurate. As Ryan Jackson, Associate Financial Planning Director at Rathbones, explains, simply using the tax allowances and reliefs already available to two people can create a genuinely meaningful boost to long‑term wealth. For many couples, the difference can be life‑changing.

Reaching £1 million in an Individual Savings Account (ISA) may feel ambitious, but our latest research shows it’s more achievable when investors combine steady contributions, tax‑efficient structures and long‑term discipline. These habits sit at the heart of our purpose: to help people invest well so they can live well.

Tax rules are changing in ways that will affect people with significant investments. Even if your income stays the same, frozen thresholds and rising rates on dividends, savings and property income mean your overall tax bill may increase.

Tax efficiency becomes increasingly important as you prepare for and begin drawing on your retirement savings. Making the right choices could help you reduce unnecessary tax bills and thereby significantly extend the life of your wealth and potentially help pass on more to loved ones.

If you want to improve your financial wellbeing but keep putting it off, you’re not alone. Many people know they should get their finances in order, but life gets in the way. The good news? Taking control of your money doesn’t need to feel overwhelming. With a clear plan and regular check‑ins, you can build financial confidence and make meaningful progress towards your ideal life.

Tax year end is more than just a formality.

It’s one of the key moments each year to review your planning. It’s an opportunity to make sure you’ve used available allowances, checked that your current approach is still appropriate, and considered how upcoming tax changes may affect you.

Senior Financial Planning Director Adebola Babatunde shares some of the key points he’s been discussing with clients as the end of the tax year approaches. These points are general in nature and may not apply in every situation, as the right approach will depend on your personal and business circumstances.

Managing your investments effectively means understanding capital gains tax (CGT) and how planning can help you keep more of your wealth. And every pound saved in CGT today could be a pound of compounding toward your wealth tomorrow.

Keep more, grow more. Every pound saved from tax today is a pound compounding tomorrow. Make sure you’re optimising your finances for tax purposes with our useful tips.

Make sure you’re not paying more tax than necessary by using your annual allowances effectively. Every pound you save in tax is a pound that can stay invested, compound, and grow your wealth for the future.