Shareholder protection insurance products 2023: Premium Equalisation: Shareholder Protection Premium Equalisation is an essential aspect of business trust policies. When a group of shareholders decides to take out an own life policy individually, they may need to equalize the premiums paid. This is done to prevent HMRC from considering unequal premiums as a “gift” or “wealth transfer” from those who are paying more to those who are paying less. If HMRC views this as a gift, there could be inheritance tax implications if there is ever a claim. Discover more information at executive income protection.
Keyman insurance can be an invaluable asset to a business, allowing them to cover the loss of valuable personnel such as Executives or Board Members. Often, premiums for keyman insurance are tax deductible provided certain criteria are met. Generally speaking, for the policy to be eligible for corporation tax relief it must be used to compensate for profit loss should a key individual die, have a limited term of 5 years or less and must not be convertible into another type of policy. Tax regulations vary from region to region however; therefore each business should speak with its local tax inspector to grow greater clarity on this matter before taking out any kind of coverage.
When a business loan is taken out, it must be done so with the understanding that there will be a responsible party for paying back the money borrowed. Business loan protection insurance is usually taken out on the individual or group of individuals responsible for repayment of the loan. The purpose of this type of insurance is to provide a level of security and assurance should something unexpected happen to one or more of the shareholders involved in the loan. This could include death, disability, or critical illness – all of which might otherwise leave the company in financial difficulty.
It’s always important to consider the tax implications of any business decision and shareholder protection is no exception. By paying for shareholder protection through the business, corporations can save on their taxes by claiming it as an expense. However, it’s important to ensure that the agreement is correctly arranged in order to avoid any unexpected tax liabilities. One of the key considerations when arranging a shareholder protection agreement is whether or not the shares will go into the deceased shareholder’s estate before being purchased by surviving shareholders. If the agreement stipulates that the shares must be sold by the estate and purchased by surviving shareholders, then they may not qualify for business property tax exemption and could have significant inheritance implications. However, with careful wording, it is possible to structure the agreement in a way that allows for this exemption while still achieving the desired outcome. Ultimately, seeking advice from a specialist business protection adviser can provide invaluable support in navigating these complexities and ensuring that all parties are adequately protected while minimizing any potential tax liabilities.
When an individual or couple take out a mortgage then in most cases they will protect their mortgage with life insurance or life and critical illness. The same principle should apply for business that have loans, overdrafts or other type of commercial loans. However many business owners overlook and forget to cover any outstanding loans. Business loan protection is very similar to key person cover but rather than the sum assured amount covering the loss of income from the death of a key employee instead it covers outstanding debts.
Often called key-man insurance this type of policy is sometimes miss understood. It is important to ensure that the policy is set up in the correct manner using the right trusts or structure. There are also a lot of confusion and miss information on the tax treatment of these policies. The policy can be for life only or for life and critical illness cover . In another article we also explore key person income protection insurance. The death or illness of a key employee can have devastating consequences for a business and thus protecting a business from this should be an important part of protecting a business if the financial impact and help the business survive a difficult time. Read even more details on https://advice4directors.co.uk/.
There is not a one size fit all solution for business protection. It is not quite as easy as getting a £1 million pound life insurance policy for each of the directors and then thinking the business is safe. Instead a business should consult with a business protection expert who can then design a bespoke solution individual to the business Often the policies need to be written in trust and it is also very important to look at the tax position of the policies both the premiums payable and how these are treated and also the sum assured upon a claim. We have helped many directors and business owners protect their businesses.