Specialist Services

Succession Planning

Succession planning is an essential part of managing personal wealth and securing your family’s financial future. With careful planning, you can ensure your assets are passed on efficiently while minimising unnecessary tax liabilities and complying with tax obligations.

Overview

The Importance of Succession Planning

“At Parsons, we can support you with a detailed plan that will provide peace of mind everything is taken care of.”

Without a clear plan, transferring assets can lead to significant tax burdens. Inheritance tax (IHT), capital gains tax (CGT) and other personal taxes can reduce the value of your estate if it’s not considered correctly. Succession planning allows individuals to structure asset transfers in a tax-efficient way, so you can make sure your beneficiaries receive the maximum benefit.

We’ll provide robust tax solutions that show how your wealth will be distributed, reduce any risks and make sure it’s exactly what you want.

STRATEGIC GUIDANCE

The Planning Tools that Fit Your Needs

Our tax specialists will support you to choose the succession planning tool that’s best for you, your business and family including exploring family trusts and family investment companies.

Family Trusts

Trusts are a flexible tool that allows you to transfer wealth between generations. They are widely used and a flexible path for separating legal and beneficial ownership of assets.

Family trusts (FT) can be used to hold investments, property or business interests for multiple generations. FTs can help mitigate inheritance tax and provide a structured way to support children or grandchildren financially.

Family Investment Companies

A family investment company (FIC) is a private company set up to hold family wealth. FICs allow shareholders both ownership and potential income from dividends.

They can be a good way to manage and grow family wealth and offer more flexibility in decision-making and investment management.

The Lifecycle

Essential considerations

Wills

A professionally drafted and regularly updated will ensures your assets are distributed according to your wishes. Wills can be structured to make use of inheritance tax allowance, spouse exemptions and charitable reliefs which can significantly reduce the overall tax on your estate.

Risk Focus

In the UK this is a key succession planning strategy. By making gifts during your lifetime, you can reduce the value of your taxable estate and potentially lower the inheritance tax. We can support you with understanding the lifetime gifting allowances and exemptions ensuring you remain compliant.

Plan For Your Future with Reliable Tax Advice

Our dedicated tax experts provide ongoing support to help individuals, families and business owners make informed decisions, minimise tax liabilities and stay compliant with the UK regulations.

We’ll take the time to understand your circumstances and long-term goals and work with you to create a tailored succession planning strategy. With our guidance, you’ll have peace of mind that your assets are protected so you can confidently plan and secure your financial future for yourself, family and business.

GET HELP WITH SUCCESSION PLANNING
Advisor meeting client to discuss succession planning

PROVEN

RESULTS

Testimonials

Client feedback

PROVEN

RESULTS

“We have engaged Parsons as statutory auditor and are thrilled with their knowledge and professionalism. They have taken time to understand our business and us as individuals and have audited in a way which does not feel onerous and allows us to continue business as usual.”

Victoria McLeod

Director at Royle Recruitment

“I’ve worked with Ian and his team at Parsons for several years. They were instrumental in helping me to negotiate the successful sale of my first business and they continue to give me reliable advice and accountancy for my current business, Prosura.”

Jon Newall

CEO, Prosura Ltd

“York Medical Group have trusted Parsons as our finance and commercial partner for over six years. When the practice scaled up and merged several practices into one and became a Primary Care Network in its own right, we need fit-for-purpose financial systems. We outsourced our Financial Controller, Finance Administrator and strategic financial advice to Parsons…

Zulf Ali

CEO York Medical Group

“We outsourced our finance function because it gave us the flexibility and breadth of financial expertise we needed in the face of very rapid growth. The COVID pandemic saw our contractual income grow from a £2m to a £6.3m within a very short period of time. Our finance needs have changed along the journey and…

Maddy Ruff

CEO at Nimbuscare Ltd

“There was a lot of documentation and complex processes involved with the disposal of the business. I needed the advice of someone who understood what was required to ensure everything was done correctly and with my best interests at heart. Parsons certainly fulfilled that need. We has a very smooth deal which was comparatively swift…

Barry Vale

former owner at Ridings Reprographics

“Parsons have been with us since our first audit in 2023, supporting us as a privately owned SME in the flooring sector through an important milestone for the business. Their approachable, supportive manner made the process feel straightforward and reassuring, and we genuinely enjoy working with a team who are always on hand throughout the…

Helen De La Rue

UK Trade Furnishings Limited

“The team at Parsons York is our first port of call when we need expertise to support key strategic decisions. We know we can rely on Rebecca and Mark to answer a call and provide immediate and sound advice when we need it. Parsons provide high-level strategic insight that complements our in-house finance team and…

Jordan Cook

Managing Director at PolyGlobal Ltd

“The team at Parsons understand my business very well, they truly care about the job they do and the clients they look after. Parsons looks after my tax affairs – previously for the business and my personal tax affairs now that I’ve retired. Having that long-term relationship has been beneficial because there is an existing…

Allan Binns

Former Managing Director at Incom Systems Communication Specialists Ltd

“Parsons have been managing my annual Self Assessment tax return for several years and they are so easy to deal with, I’ve even recommended them to other people. I like working with a local business and it’s important to me that my accountant is established and professional. There’s always someone there to answer any queries…

Nick Stokes

Business Owner at Stokes Creations

“The service from Parsons is very professional and efficient. I can always get hold of an accountant when I need them, they have reliable expertise and a very good understanding of my accounts. I know I can trust them to advise me on everything I need to know and any actions I need to take.…

Malcolm Bretton

Local Farmer based in West Yorkshire

Support

Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the common questions we hear from clients.

Secure Your Legacy.

Our specialist succession planning team is available for a no-obligation conversation to clarify your specific situation.

Succession planning is the process of organising your estate, assets, business interests and wealth will be passed on to your beneficiaries.

Inheritance tax (IHT) is tax on the estate of someone who has sadly passed away. There’s normally no IHT to pay if either:
 
• The value of your estate is below £325,000
• You leave everything above £325,000 threshold to your spouse, civil partner, a charity or a community amateur sports club
• If you give away your home to your children or grandchildren your threshold can increase to £500,000
 
The standard IHT rate is 40% and that’s only charged on the part of your estate that’s above the threshold. It’s important to know that you may still need to report the estate’s value even if it’s below the threshold.

Yes, it’s important to have a will in place as it ensures your estate is distributed according to your wishes.

UK succession planning involves complex and evolving tax rules and regulations. A dedicated tax team can provide tailored advice, ensure you remain compliant with HMRC and help create a successful succession planning strategy.

Protect your family’s financial future

At Parsons, Chartered Accountants we believe that every client – an individual, start-up or an established business – should have peace of mind when it comes to their finances.

As a leading independent accountant in Yorkshire, we look after the accounting, assurance, tax planning and business advisory needs of our clients throughout the UK. As part of our service, we offer corporate finance, financial planning, payroll and bookkeeping, and outsourced financial support.