Many contractors who have savings or hope to begin saving and would like to increase the potential return on their investment on savings, should have an Individual Savings Accounts (ISA's). The current maximum that can be placed into an ISA is £10,680, of which £5,340 can be in cash. The other £5,340 can be used for shares. Although the maximum £5,340 has been set for cash, there is no limit within the £10,680 for shares.
Many people may be confused how ISA's are structured and how they can bring such great tax relief for such large chunks of savings, keeping large amounts of money away from the tax man. But a simple meeting with any local branch advisor will help explain and choose the best suited ISA for your individual needs and requirements. Recent finding by the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has shown that aside from the fact that many still don't understand how beneficial having an ISA can be there is currently 15.3 million active ISA accounts. The most since the introduction of ISA's in 1998.
All contractors should consider an ISA as their first choice for ultimate flexibility for investments, as having instant access to savings can be an attractive prospect especially for contractors.
For contractors there are many types of ISA's to choose from:
Cash ISA's: Many will have variable rates of interest depending on the access required. ISA's can have instant access at the teller, online and by phone but may have low rates, whereas fixed rate ISAs are available with higher rates but may require less flexibility and a possible fine for early withdrawals. But are great for short term and free from any fluctuations within the stock market.
Equity ISA's: The opportunity to invest money in a managed fund or chose to make individual decisions on which companies to invest in. There are different areas that managed funds invest in, these are international equity funds, commercial property and corporate and treasury bonds. But beware as stocks and shares ISA's can be considered long term (5+ years) and the investment can fall below the contractors initial instalment as the markets fluctuate.
With contractors facing challenges from the HMRC, with tax, IR35, IR56 compliance and expenses being required it is vital to make use of all available tax breaks that are still available. It is also recommended to use an umbrella company to help process your payroll and maximise your income through using their tax expertise, keeping you on the legal path. Whilst reducing the worry and complexities that are involved with all the legal issues.
Harvey McEwan writes to offer information amd advice on a variety of areas, from technology to holiday destinations. Read through Harvey's other articles here to find out more.
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