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Income Tax · Corporation Tax · CGT · IHT

Strategic
Tax Planning

Proactive, year-round tax planning that legally and legitimately minimises your tax liability — keeping more of what you earn in your business and your pocket.

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45%
Top income tax rate we help clients plan around
25%
Corporation tax main rate — plan around it
£3,000
Annual gift allowance — often overlooked
Year-round
When good tax planning happens — not just January
Overview

The difference between paying tax and planning tax

There is a significant difference between filing a tax return and planning your tax position. Filing records what happened. Planning shapes what will happen — structuring your income, expenditure, and business decisions in ways that make full use of the reliefs, allowances and exemptions that Parliament has deliberately put into the tax system.

Many businesses and individuals overpay tax simply because no one has sat down with them and asked the right questions. Is your salary/dividend split optimised? Are you making pension contributions at the right time? Have you claimed all available capital allowances? Is your business structured in the most tax-efficient way as it grows?

At DKAT, tax planning is not an optional extra — it is built into everything we do. We review your position throughout the year, not just at year-end, and proactively bring opportunities to your attention. Our goal is to help you pay no more tax than you are legally required to.

Tax planning is legal — and important

  • Tax planning = using legitimate reliefs Parliament has provided
  • Tax avoidance schemes (DOTAS) are different and we never use them
  • Most savings come from simple, uncomplicated planning
  • The best time to start is always before your year-end
  • We give you written advice so you have a clear audit trail
  • All our planning is compliant with current HMRC guidance
20+ yrs
Tax planning experience
Thousands
Saved for our clients
Who Benefits Most

Tax planning makes the biggest difference for…

💼
Company Directors
The salary/dividend mix, director's pension contributions, and timing of profit extraction offer significant planning opportunities that many directors never fully exploit.
📈
High Earners
Income over £100,000 triggers the withdrawal of the personal allowance, creating an effective 60% marginal rate. Planning around this threshold can save thousands every year.
🏘️
Property Investors
Mortgage interest restriction, incorporation decisions, Principal Private Residence relief, and IHT exposure on property portfolios all require careful long-term planning.
🏢
Growing Businesses
As your business scales, the tax implications of each decision — from hiring staff to acquiring assets to taking on investment — become increasingly significant.
🔬
Innovators & Developers
If your business undertakes qualifying R&D activity, you may be entitled to significant additional tax relief. Many businesses never claim it simply because no one told them they qualified.
🎯
Business Sellers
Selling a business is one of the most significant financial events in your life. The difference between a well-planned and a poorly planned exit can easily be six figures in CGT.
Planning Areas

Where we find your tax savings

Tax planning spans every area of your financial life. We take a holistic view — looking at income tax, corporation tax, CGT and IHT together rather than in isolation.

01
Director Remuneration Structuring
The optimal balance of salary, dividends, and benefits-in-kind for director/shareholders is calculated annually based on the prevailing rates, your other income sources, and your pension strategy — it changes year on year and should be reviewed every April.
02
Pension Contribution Planning
Employer pension contributions are deductible against corporation tax and reduce your company's taxable profits. Personal contributions above the basic rate extend your basic rate band. Pension planning is one of the most powerful and underused tax levers available.
03
Capital Gains Tax Planning
Timing of asset disposals, utilisation of the annual exempt amount, application of business asset disposal relief, use of capital losses, and holdover/rollover relief elections — all require careful planning well before the transaction, not after it.
04
R&D Tax Credits
Companies undertaking qualifying R&D can claim the R&D Expenditure Credit (RDEC) at 20% of qualifying costs under the merged scheme from April 2024, or the enhanced SME scheme where applicable. We identify qualifying activity, prepare the technical narrative and submit the claim. Many clients are surprised to find they qualify.
05
Property Tax Planning
The mortgage interest restriction, the 3% SDLT surcharge, potential incorporation into a limited company, and IHT exposure on large property portfolios all require joined-up planning. We advise on the full picture, including when incorporation does and doesn't make financial sense.
06
Inheritance Tax & Succession Planning
Business Property Relief, annual gifting, trust structures, and charitable giving are all tools available to reduce your IHT exposure over time. We build multi-year plans that reduce your estate's tax liability without requiring you to give up control prematurely.
02
Planning Opportunities Report
We produce a written report setting out the strategies we recommend, the projected tax saving from each, and any actions required — both immediately and before your year-end.
03
Quarterly Check-Ins
We don't just plan at the start of the year and disappear. Quarterly reviews ensure the plan remains appropriate as your circumstances change and that any new opportunities are identified promptly.
04
Pre-Year-End Review
In the six to eight weeks before your year-end, we carry out a final review to implement any remaining actions — pension contributions, asset purchases, salary adjustments — before the window closes.
05
Post-Filing Analysis
After your returns are filed, we assess what the actual position was versus our forecast and refine our approach for the following year with the benefit of hindsight.
What's Included

Proactive planning, measurable results

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is tax planning the same as tax avoidance?
+
No. Tax planning means arranging your affairs to take full advantage of reliefs, allowances and exemptions that are intentionally built into the tax system. Tax avoidance involves artificial arrangements that have no commercial purpose other than reducing tax — and HMRC has extensive anti-avoidance legislation to counter it. We only ever advise on legitimate, compliant planning.
How much could I realistically save?
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This varies enormously by circumstances, but clients who have never had structured tax planning advice often find meaningful savings — from straightforward measures like optimising director remuneration and maximising pension contributions. Results vary depending on individual circumstances. We'll give you an honest assessment after an initial review.
When should I start planning?
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Ideally, throughout the year — not in January. Many of the most effective tax planning actions need to be taken before your year-end. Pension contributions, salary structuring, and asset purchases all have timing implications. The earlier we review your position, the more options we have available.
What is Business Asset Disposal Relief?
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Formerly known as Entrepreneurs' Relief, BADR reduces Capital Gains Tax on the disposal of qualifying business assets (including shares in your own trading company) to 10% up to the lifetime limit — significantly below the standard CGT rate. To qualify, you must have held the shares for at least two years and meet the trading company conditions. Planning well ahead of a sale is essential.
Can I make a pension contribution to reduce my corporation tax?
+
Yes — employer pension contributions are an allowable deduction against corporation tax, provided they meet the 'wholly and exclusively' test. A £20,000 employer pension contribution in a 25% corporation tax environment saves £5,000 in corporation tax, while the same amount goes into your pension entirely free of tax. We model the optimal contribution level annually.
What is the 60% tax trap and how do I avoid it?
+
When your income exceeds £100,000, you begin to lose your personal allowance (£1 for every £2 earned over £100,000). This means income between £100,000 and £125,140 is effectively taxed at 60%. We use pension contributions, charitable donations and other planning tools to reduce adjusted net income below the £100,000 threshold where possible.

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Tax Planning?

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FCCA QUALIFIED
FCCA
Fellow of ACCA