The end of the tax year always brings two important tasks.
The first is practical: gathering the certificates and information needed for tax returns.
The second is forward-looking: using the new tax year as an opportunity to plan ahead.
Certificates and information for your accountant
Following the end of the tax year, our team will begin gathering tax certificates and other relevant information for clients who have requested this service.
Many providers do not make tax certificates available until late June or early July, which means we are unable to begin collecting all documentation immediately after the tax year ends. Once documents are available, we undertake a thorough process to gather, review and verify the information before sharing it securely with clients and, where requested, their accountants.
We expect this year’s process to begin in July and it may take up to four weeks to complete. Our aim is to have all requested information issued by the end of July.
If you require information sooner, please contact your usual adviser and we will do our best to assist. In many cases, providers may also make certain documents available directly through their own client portals.
Time to plan for 2026/27
ISA and pension funding does not have to wait until the end of a tax year. Where cash flow allows, it is often better to put regular planned funding in place earlier and get that money working for you.
So, while you are gathering information for your 2025/26 tax return, it is also worth turning your thoughts to the current tax year.
The following areas may be worth considering.
The ISA allowance for 2026/27 is £20,000.
Using as much of your ISA allowance as possible can be valuable because growth, dividends and gains within an ISA are generally tax-free.
Pension contributions remain one of the most valuable forms of tax relief available, even with planned inheritance tax changes on the horizon.
The annual allowance is generally up to £60,000, subject to earnings and other rules. Higher-rate and additional-rate taxpayers can receive substantial tax relief from pension contributions.
It may also be worth checking whether you have unused allowance available to carry forward from the previous three tax years.
The standard Personal Allowance is £12,570.
It is withdrawn once adjusted net income exceeds £100,000, creating an effective 60% marginal tax rate between £100,000 and £125,140.
Pension contributions and charitable Gift Aid donations can help reduce adjusted net income and restore some or all of the allowance.
Individuals currently have a £3,000 annual exempt amount.
If you have investments outside ISAs and pensions, it may be worth considering whether to realise gains up to the allowance. This is sometimes referred to as “gain harvesting”.
The unused CGT allowance cannot be carried forward.
Transfers between spouses and civil partners are generally free of Capital Gains Tax.
It may be worth considering whether both partners are making full use of:
Where appropriate, holding income-producing assets in the name of the lower-tax-rate spouse or civil partner can also help reduce the overall tax burden.
Gift Aid donations can extend your basic-rate band and reduce adjusted net income.
This can be particularly valuable if you are close to key thresholds, including the higher-rate threshold or the £100,000 point at which the Personal Allowance begins to taper.
If you own a limited company, it may also be worth considering:
We work collaboratively with our clients’ accountants and proactively support joined-up planning. The aim is to make sure everyone is focused on helping you make the most of the allowances and opportunities available to you.
Please get in touch if you are unsure whether you are making the most of yours.