Dividend splitting under Conservative govt

[GreenerGrass]

What are peoples' opinions on whether HMRC will crack down on husband and wife "income splitting" under a Conservative government?
Is it too late to split shares or do we have a few years left?
And even if they bring it in, will it be too difficult to backdate clawbacks?

[Fred Bloggs]

I think it will stay in the long grass at least for the first term.

[malvolio]

Why would they? It's been found to be entirely legal. The only reason Gay Gorgon put it in the budget as a specific piece of legislation was because he was defeated in the Lords. Even if someone does manage to frame it proerly and get it enacted, as a new piece of legislation it cannot be backdated

Whoever gets in taxes are going up; if it's the Tories they won't be inhibited by Brown's stupid promise not to rasie Income Tax rates either (although he has, of course, done just that recently). Income splitting is a trivial option that would merely infuriate 1.5m people for no reason.

[tim123]

if it's the Tories they won't be inhibited by Brown's stupid promise not to rasie Income Tax rates either

The only reason Brown makes this "stupid promise" is because putting up IT is what everyone expects is the last thing that the Tories will do.

Expect to see an increase in VAT and NI contributions and perhaps "car" related taxes.

And more "user" charges for things that used to be included in other taxes (like getting your rubbish collected)

tim