On Tue, 5 Aug 2003 14:22:34 +0100, "RichardS" noaccess@invalid
wrote:



Don't think it's a solicitor that you want, but rather a good tax
accountant.

There's tonnes of stuff to consider, with implications left right and centre
for all concerned, and if anyone will be good at helping you to exercise
your right to minimise your tax burden (aka avoidance, but this is being
branded "nasty, underhand" by govt spinners) then an accountant will be.

cheers
Richard


I completely agree, and also find one who knows all of the
implications regarding gift transfers and inheritance tax. While the
fair market value of the property may not hit the inheritance tax
threshold, the complete estate might. There are a whole bunch of
rules in relation to that in terms of timing just as there are for
gifts.

A lot of the information is buried, often quite obscurely in tax
legislation since only the major issues tend to be widely published.
This also means that the typical enquiries person in the tax office
doesn't have a clue.

I'm currently involved (or rather my wife is) in being an executor
where these issues arise. There is no doubt that the very good
accountant that we have is the main player in this and the solicitor
is virtually along for the ride.



..andy

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