A surge in the number of children with a pension has been revealed, as wealthy parents seek to cut their inheritance tax bills. One investment platform has reported a 158% rise in new Junior Self-Invested Personal Pensions (JISIPs) in the first month of the new tax year, compared to the same period last year. The move is seen as a tax avoidance tactic by wealthy families, who are topping up their children's pensions to reduce their overall tax liability.
The increase in JISIPs is a significant trend, with the number of new accounts opening at the investment platform exceeding expectations. The surge is being driven by wealthy parents who are seeking to pass on more of their wealth to their children, while minimising the amount of inheritance tax they pay. Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on estates worth more than GBP 325,000, plus a 6% charge on estates worth more than GBP 2 million.
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has been cracking down on tax avoidance schemes, but the use of JISIPs remains a grey area. While the pensions are technically legitimate, they can still be used to reduce tax liabilities. The investment platform behind the surge in JISIPs claims that its product is entirely compliant with HMRC rules.
However, the rise in JISIPs has raised concerns among tax experts, who warning that the trend could lead to a significant loss of revenue for the Exchequer. The Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) estimates that the tax-free allowance for pensions could cost the Treasury up to GBP 1.5 billion in lost revenue by 2025.