Investing tax-efficiently

The complex world of tax on investment

The UK tax system has grown increasingly elaborate, thanks to revenue-raising tweaks such as the freezing of many elements and multiple reforms of dividend taxation. As more changes are introduced, the complexities increase.

This guide offers a brief outline of how your investments are currently taxed and future changes (or freezes) that have already been announced. The Covid-19 pandemic hit government finances hard and ever since, successive Chancellors (and their Scottish counterparts) have been taking significant steps to raise revenue. As result:

  • Many personal tax allowances and bands are now frozen until April 2028, despite inflation having reached over 11% in 2022.
  • There was a six percentage point jump in the main rate of corporation tax from April 2023.
  • From April 2023, the starting point for additional rate tax (top rate in Scotland) has been cut by nearly £25,000 to £125,140.
  • In Scotland a further 1% was added to the higher and top rates from 2023/24, taking them to 42% and 47%.
  • The taxation of dividends is now much less generous than when the current structure was introduced in 2016/17.
  • Despite cuts to national insurance announced in the Autumn Statement 2023, the tax burden is on course to rise over each of the next five years to a post-war high of 38%.

Expert advice is necessary if you require more information or a greater insight into how to cut your share of the growing tax burden.