The testator and her husband were UK domiciled and UK resident, as are the trustees. The trust assets include UK investment bonds on which the couple's non-resident daughters were named as the lives assured.

The total value of the trust fund is just below the NRB so Inheritance Tax is not an issue but the bonds are showing gains. Do you think that there is any merit in assigning the bonds to the daughters before surrender?

Answer

The gains within a life assurance bond are not taxable until a chargeable event as defined in income tax law occurs. This might for example be a death claim, surrender or assignment. However assignment out of a trust to a beneficiary to settle rights under the terms of the trust is not treated by HMRC as being “for money’s worth”, so at the point of assignment, no tax charge will arise and there is no issue for the trustees. Indeed, it is often this very fact that prompts financial advisers to recommend the use of offshore life assurance bonds as trust assets.

A chargeable event will occur when the beneficiary cashes in the bond at some stage but the tax liability will then be the beneficiary’s. If they are not resident for tax purposes in the UK in the year of encashment, no UK tax liability will arise, bearing in mind that chargeable event gains are taxed under the Income Tax rules, so all that applies about non-residence in the Income Tax context will apply in this situation.

There may be a potential tax liability for the daughters under the domestic tax regimes of their home country, but that matter should be discussed by each of them with a local tax adviser, if they feel it would be necessary.

© Mark Potter - Ethos Financial Management Ltd

September 2011

Tel: 01747 812381

Email: Mark@ethosfm.co.uk

Ethos Financial Management Ltd is an appointed representative of TenetConnect Services Ltd which is regulated and authorised by the Financial Services Authority