Tax planning
that saves more.
Proactive strategies to legally minimise your tax liability and maximise the amount you keep.
What Is Tax Planning?
Tax planning is the proactive use of legitimate strategies, reliefs, and allowances to reduce your tax liability — legally and within HMRC guidelines. The UK tax code is complex and full of opportunities that most taxpayers never access simply because they are not aware of them.
Good tax planning is not aggressive avoidance. It is the intelligent application of the rules as Parliament intended — ensuring you claim every allowance you are entitled to, structure your affairs efficiently, and make decisions with the tax implications fully understood.
Our Tax Planning Services
We take a year-round approach to tax planning rather than a last-minute scramble before the filing deadline. For company owner-directors, this typically begins with reviewing the optimal mix of salary and dividends, ensuring that take-home pay is structured as efficiently as possible given the current rates of income tax, corporation tax, and National Insurance. Pension contributions are a particularly powerful tool, reducing both personal and corporate tax bills whilst building long-term wealth — we model the impact of different contribution levels and help you decide what makes sense for your position.
For capital expenditure, we advise on the timing of asset purchases to maximise capital allowance claims in the most beneficial period. For property owners and investors, we review the treatment of capital gains, the use of annual exempt amounts, and — where appropriate — strategies for managing gain on disposal. For business owners thinking about the longer term, we consider inheritance tax planning, business property relief, and whether the structure of the business supports eventual succession or sale in a tax-efficient way.
We also advise on the use of tax-efficient savings vehicles, including ISA allowances and Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) and Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS) investments, as well as reviewing business structure to ensure you are operating in the most appropriate form given your current turnover and growth plans. Every recommendation we make is practical, legitimate, and explained in plain English.
Why Choose Brathwaite?
Salary and dividend optimisation for company directors
Capital gains tax planning for property and investments
Pension contribution planning to reduce your tax liability
Business structure review — sole trader vs limited company
Inheritance tax planning and wealth preservation strategies
Year-round proactive review, not a once-a-year conversation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between tax avoidance and tax evasion?
Tax avoidance is the legal use of available reliefs, allowances, and structures to minimise your tax liability — this is what we do. Tax evasion is deliberately hiding income or providing false information to HMRC, which is illegal. All our tax planning strategies are fully HMRC-compliant and within the spirit of the law.
When should I start thinking about tax planning?
Ideally, tax planning should be a year-round activity, not just a consideration at year-end. Many of the most effective strategies — such as pension contributions, timing of income, or dividend planning — need to be implemented during the tax year to be effective. The sooner we start, the more options are available.
Can tax planning help with inheritance tax?
Yes. Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged at 40% on estates above the nil-rate band (£325,000, with additional allowances for property passed to children). There are numerous legitimate strategies to reduce IHT exposure, including gifting, trusts, business property relief, and pension planning. Early planning significantly expands your options.
Is tax planning only for high earners?
No. While high earners and business owners often have the most to gain, tax planning is valuable at every income level. Ensuring you claim all allowances, contribute effectively to your pension, structure your business efficiently, and plan major transactions carefully can save significant tax regardless of your income level.