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Year-End Tax Planning Guide: Five Smart Moves Before 5 April

  • Writer: David
    David
  • 5 days ago
  • 2 min read

As we head into the final quarter of the tax year, now is the perfect time to review your finances and make sure you’ve taken advantage of all the allowances, reliefs and planning opportunities available to you.


A few strategic decisions before 5 April can make a meaningful difference to your tax bill — especially in a year where continued threshold freezes mean more taxpayers are paying more than expected.


1. Maximise pension contributions

Pension contributions are one of the most effective tools for reducing taxable income. They can:

  • Lower your marginal tax rate

  • Restore lost personal allowance

  • Reduce exposure to the child benefit charge

  • Support long-term retirement planning

  • Make sure you also consider unused allowances from the previous three years, which may be able to be carried forwards to use.


2. Make Gift Aid donations

If you're planning charitable giving, doing so before year-end can help reduce your adjusted net income and lower your overall tax bill. Higher-rate taxpayers receive additional relief through Self Assessment.


3. Use your ISA allowances

Each adult has a £20,000 annual ISA allowance, and children can benefit from Junior ISAs. These allowances don’t roll over, so if you don’t use them before 5 April, they’re lost.


4. Review dividends and capital gains

With the dividend allowance now at £500 and the CGT exempt maintained at £3,000, many individuals may face unexpected tax liabilities. Year-end is a good time to:

  • Rebalance portfolios

  • Crystallise gains or losses

  • Plan asset disposals

  • Reassess your remuneration strategy if you’re a director


5. Check family-based allowances

Families and couples can often reduce their household tax bill with a well-timed review:

  • Marriage Allowance transfers

  • Optimising income between partners

  • Planning around the Child Benefit High Income Charge

  • Using gifting allowances for inheritance tax planning


Final thoughts

Year-end planning isn’t just for high earners — it helps individuals, families and business owners take control of their tax position and avoid avoidable costs. A targeted review now can secure valuable savings and set you up well for the new tax year.


If you’d like personalised guidance or a year-end tax planning review, we’re happy to help.



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