Tax & Estate Planning
About Tax &
Estate Planning
Tax and estate planning is about keeping more of what you've built and passing it on the way you intend. At Vintage Wealth Management, that means looking at your whole financial position in one go: how your estate is structured, how and when you draw on your assets, what you give away during your lifetime, and how all of it sits alongside your pensions, investments, and property. It's for anyone whose wealth has grown to the point where tax starts to shape what reaches the next generation, and that's now a far wider group of people than it used to be.
The numbers explain why. HMRC collected around £8 billion in inheritance tax in 2024/25, and the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts that will reach roughly £14.5 billion by 2030/31. The 40% rate kicks in above £325,000, a threshold frozen since 2009 and held there until at least 2030/31, so rising house and pension values keep pulling more families over the line every year. You can be asset-rich on paper and still leave your family a bill they can't easily pay.
Two changes make the next couple of years the time to act. From April 2026, the unlimited 100% relief on business and AIM-listed assets is capped, with relief on qualifying assets above £2.5 million dropping to 50%. From 6 April 2027, unused pension funds come into your estate for inheritance tax for the first time, a change now law under the Finance Act 2026. If you've been holding a pension to pass on to your family, the way you draw down your assets changes from that date. We're doing this work now, modelling where you stand today and what changes before each deadline so you can act while the options are still open.
Our tax & estate planning services
We cover the full range of tax and estate work, with a dedicated page for each area so you can go straight to what applies to you.
Most estate planning starts with the 40% charge on everything above £325,000. Our inheritance tax planning service models your exposure under current rules, then works through the allowances, gifting, and reliefs that bring it down. If you're not sure whether your estate is even in range, this is where you'll find out.
When you want a say in how and when your wealth reaches the people you choose, a trust gives you that control. Our trust planning advice covers the structures available, what each one does, and how they're taxed, with an in-house solicitor handling the documentation. People come to this when they're providing for a young beneficiary, protecting assets in a blended family, or making sure a property passes to the children they intend.
Higher-rate taxpayers comfortable with risk can use the Enterprise Investment Scheme to claim income tax, capital gains, and inheritance tax reliefs in return for backing early-stage British companies. The reliefs are generous because the underlying investments aren't for everyone. We model how it fits your wider position before recommending anything.
For tax-free income from a managed portfolio rather than single companies, Venture Capital Trusts spread your money across small UK businesses and carry their own set of reliefs. They suit investors who've used their pension and ISA allowances and want another tax-efficient home for surplus income. We'll tell you whether they make sense for you and how much to put in.
When you sell a business, a second property, or an investment portfolio, the tax on the gain can be substantial. Our capital gains tax planning service looks at timing your disposals, using your annual exemption, and structuring assets so you keep more of what you've made. We build this into the wider plan rather than treating it as a one-off.
Why work with Vintage Wealth Management
Tax and estate planning doesn't sit in a silo. Your pensions, investments, property, and tax position all feed into it, and we look at the full picture rather than treating any one part on its own. Vintage Wealth Management has been advising clients on tax and estate planning for over a decade. We're named in the FT Adviser UK Top 100 Financial Advisers every year since 2021, and our team includes Chartered Financial Planners, Fellows of the Personal Finance Society, and an in-house solicitor who specialises in wills, trusts, and powers of attorney. We've got offices in Central London, North West London, Portsmouth, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, and Dublin, and we work with clients across the UK. Get in touch and we'll take it from there. Get in touch
Disclaimer
The information supplied is based upon our understanding of current UK law and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) practice. Tax law and HMRC practice may change from time to time. The value of any tax relief will depend on the individual circumstances of the investor. Business Property Relief (BPR) is subject to HMRC rules and may change in the future. Qualification depends on individual circumstances and is not guaranteed. Investments that aim to qualify for BPR, such as shares in smaller or unlisted companies, carry higher risk and their value can fall as well as rise. Investors may not get back the full amount invested. BPR typically requires assets to be held for at least two years and relief will only apply if the qualifying conditions are met at the time of death. Your capital is at risk – your investment can fall as well as rise in value so you could get back less than you invest. In addition, because AIM-listed companies tend to be smaller, more volatile and subject to less stringent checks than those quoted on the main London Stock Exchange, the risks are greater. The Financial Conduct Authority do not regulate tax planning or trusts. The information contained within this communication does not constitute financial advice and is provided for general information purposes only. Links to related sites have been provided for information only. Their presence on this blog does not mean that the firm endorses any of the information, products or views published on these sites. No warranty, whether express or implied is given in relation to such information. Vintage Wealth Management or any of its associated representatives shall not be liable for any technical, editorial, typographical or other errors or omissions within the content of this communication.