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It is almost exactly one year since Revenue Scotland reversed its decision to levy Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) on in-specie transfers between SIPP or SSAS providers. The reversal followed almost two years of industry debates, and indeed efforts to have the original decision overturned.
The end of the tax year is traditionally a really busy time for adviser and SIPP providers.
The recent decision by Revenue Scotland regarding Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland (LBTT) and its application to in-specie transfers between SIPP or SSAS providers brought to a close a period of almost two years of involvement for Morton Fraser in the debate surrounding the issue in Scotland, writes Fergus McDiarmid of Morton Fraser.
The beginning of February saw the FCA issue a discussion paper DP18/1: Effective competition in non-workplace pensions. Within the discussion paper, the FCA estimates that non-workplace pensions amount to around £400bn in AUM, double the amount invested in DC pensions schemes.
The run up to the end of the tax year can be a very busy time for advisers and is an ideal time to ensure that clients review their expression of wishes form. Trustees do have the discretion to select who will receive benefits, but will of course take account of any in an expression of wish form.
Normally the end of the year is quiet in terms of changes to the pensions industry, but 2017 bucked this trend with a very sensible move by the Scottish government.