It is a change of ownership of a life insurance investment bond, or capital redemption bond, or segments of either type of investment bond. The change of ownership should be supported by a proper legal document – a deed of assignment.
When you assign an investment bond the person you have assigned it to becomes the beneficial owner, as if they had owned the bond from day one i.e. the start date of the investment.
What are the Benefits of Assigning?
No Capital Gains Tax: It is possible to gift an investment bond to an adult child without causing a capital gains tax charge. Gifting other types of investment would be a disposal for capital gains tax purposes.
No Initial Income Tax Charge: An assignment does not trigger a chargeable event and does not give rise to an income tax charge, provided the assignment is not for money or money’s worth. If you are making a gift then that is not for money or money’s worth.
Transfer to a Trust: It is possible to transfer an investment bond to an individual or to a trust for inheritance tax planning without causing an income tax or capital gains tax charge.
Minimise Income Tax: Providing an outright gift is made it’s possible to minimise income tax on encashment by putting the investment bond or segments of the investment bond into the hands of a taxpayer who will pay a lower rate of tax on encashment (or indeed no further tax the enchasment keeps the person still in the Basic Rate Tax Bracket used Top Slicing Rules)
Inheritance Tax Planning: The assignment is technically a gift for Inheritance Tax purposes. Any gift you make is taken into account for Inheritance Tax purposes. If you survive for 7 years after making the gift then the full value of the bonds should fall outside your estate for Inheritance Tax calculation purposes.
Other Tax Planning Opportunities when Assigning a Bond
University Funding - A policyholder can assign an investment bond to an adult child to cover university costs at a time when the child’s personal allowance is unused and/or there would be no further tax to pay on an onshore investment bond because any gain, or top-sliced gain, would be within the basic rate tax bracket (assuming the student is a non, lower or basic rate taxpayer). By assigning your bonds they can use them for themselves if needed and when needed to provide financial assistance through university. It may even be that you gradually assign bonds over to fund education.
Efficient Income Planning - Assigning the policy to a lower rate tax payer within your family when/if income or capital needs as again, similar to the above, you can control tax liabilities.
Disadvantages of Assignment
The bond is now owned by another person. You lose control, it is not your money anymore.
If this new person/owner dies then the full value of the bond could be taken into account for inheritance tax if you have not used a trust.
If this new owner divorces then the full value of the bonds could be taken into account in any divorce settlement.
Our view
Insurance investment bonds represent one of the most flexible investment products available in the market and have been so since 1968 (when the relvant tax law came into force).
They are tax efficient in terms of real investment fund gains being offset against expenses and losses by the insurer within the fund meaning that lower taxes may be paid by the fund itself and then you owners can benefit from zero or lower taxation depending upon their own tax status.
In your hand they are free of capital gains tax.
In your hand, you can withdraw up to 5% per year of the original investment without an immediate liability to income tax. There may be a liability if you withdraw more and you are a higher rate tax payer (top sliciing relief). If you are a basic rate tax payer and any full encashment does not take you over the high rate tax threshold, then there is no further tax liability. In addition, the 5% per year withdrawal does not affect age allowance (the additional personal income tax allowance currently available (but stopping in 2015 for the over 65’s).
Currently, insurance bonds may not be included in any care fees funding means test.
Finally, as mentioned above, bonds can easily have ownership changes by deed of assigment or be placed in trust (as they are life insurance fund investments) – this can be excellent for tax and estate planning.
Getting Advice on Assignment
Insurance Investment Bonds may be advantageous for people in retirement when income planning, inheritance tax planning and care fees planning. They can be excellent tools for school fees and university fees planning as well as a way for higher rate tax payers to invest today and receive income or growth without incurring an immediate higher rate tax liability with options to keep for when you are a lower rate tax payer in retirement or assign ownership to others who may be nil, lower and basic rate tax payers. Contact the team for insurance bond assignment help.
