08. Other indirect investments Flashcards
What are life assurance (LA) investments?
Another type of collective/pooled investment with an insurance element.
What are the 2 types of LA investment?
- With-profit (less common now).
- Unit-linked (more common now).
The insurance element on LA policies is added to the value on death and is typically quite small: ~ of units in death is common.
101%
LA policies have split ownership between the following 2 what?
- A life-assured.
- Policyholder/Assured.
Nearly all LA investments are ~, meaning ___.
- segmented
- any investment will likely be split into a smaller number of identical policies.
What is a benefit of segmenting LA investments?
It brings tax advantages.
Name 2 likely benefits from regular savings LA contracts.
- Generally ‘qualifying policies’.
- Can benefit from £-cost averaging.
What are the following types of regular savings plan?
- Endowments.
- Maximum Investment Plans.
- Friendly Society Plans.
- Used to repay interest-only mortgages, often with-profit, exempt from £3,600 rule.
- More common, used for regular saving purposed, unit-linked, exempt from £3,600 rule.
- Issued by mutual societies, with-profit & unit-linked, low contribution limits.
What are friendly society policy contribution limits and for what age?
- Per week.
- Per month.
- Per annum.
- £5 p/w.
- £25 p/m.
- £270 p/a.
- Available for any age.
What is the main benefit of qualifying policies?
Preferential tax treatment on any gains made. No further income tax liability on gains irrespective of tax status of investor. (Although still internal taxation on gains - 20% corporation tax).
Name the 6 qualifying rules.
- Min. 10 years or 3/4 of term.
- Premiums paid at least annually.
- Min. LA of 75% of premiums paid.
- No premium more than double another.
- No premium more than 1/8 of total premiums paid.
- Max £3,600 on non-exempt plans.
Name 3 features of a REIT?
- Close-ended investment company.
- Issues shares (PLC).
- Unlimited gearing.
What are the 2 elements of a REIT and what are their tax treatment?
- Property lettings: ring-fenced, i.e. protected from corporation tax on profits.
- Property mgt. etc.: non-ring-fenced, subject to corporation tax.
What 3 conditions must be met to qualify as a REIT?
- 75%+ of total gross profits must be from property rental business.
- 75%+ of total value of assets must be in tax-exempt part of business.
- Interest on borrowing has to be 125%+ covered by rental profits.
What are the rules regarding property income distributions (PIDs)?
Applicable to REITs and PAIFs.
- 90%+ of tax-exempt part must be paid out to shareholders as div.s within 12 months of the trading year end.
When will the sale of a property developed for investment purposes be treated as tax-exempt?
When the property has been held for 3+ years.
How are PIDs from the ring-fenced element to the investor treated for tax? Including HRT & ART, and non-taxpayers.
- As property (non-savings income), paid net of BRT 20%.
- HRT & ART payers will pay additional 20% & 25%.
- Non-taxpayers can reclaim the tax deducted at source.
How are non-PIDs from the non-ring-fenced element to the investor treated for tax?
As any other UK dividends, i.e. £1,000 Dividend Allowance then 8.75% / 33.75% / 39.35%.
Name 4 ways a PAIF differs to a REIT.
- Open-ended / OEIC rather than close ended / Investment trust.
- Contain a cash element to aid liquidity.
- 60% minimum in property rather than 75%.
- They can’t use gearing.
What is an advantage for a PAIF having more cash reserves than a REIT?
Can react quicker to potential opportunities.
What 3 conditions must be met to qualify as a PAIF?
- 60%+ of total gross profits must be from property rental business.
- 60%+ of total value of assets must be in tax-exempt part of business.
- No corporate investor can hold more than 10%+ of the fund’s NAV.