This may prove an interesting week of parallels. A recent post on our sister site’s Finance Blog in Australia compared details of how fee-driven banking products have come under scrutiny in both countries.

Another area of comparison is to be found in what we might call household efficiency or discipline savings. How much could we be saving by organising our food shopping more carefully to reduce wastage, or by switching off our electrical devices rather than leaving them on standby? Quite a lot, as it happens.

[Read more at Which4U]

Savers should check the interest rate paid on their Individual Savings Accounts (ISAs) to avoid being caught out by bonus introductory offers.

Generally speaking, the best ISA rates available on today’s savings market come with a catch – the high rates on offer are likely to fall after 12 months.

This is due to providers offering bonus rates in order to attract more custom. However, once the bonus rate expires, the level of interest paid on your savings is likely to fall significantly, leaving you earning less than you could be elsewhere.

A report from the Office of Fair Trading found that just 11% of savers that hold an ISA will switch to a new provider each year.

Savings plan (more…)

Topping up your ISA

With this years tax year ending on Tuesday (5 April), savers have been reminded that they have until this date to use up the remainder of their tax free ISA allowance – or they will lose it.

However, as tempting as it is to leave this until the last minute it is not advisable, as many banks offering the best ISA rates will soon run out of budget and be forced to pull these high paying accounts before the deadline.

All savers in the UK currently have an annual tax free savings break of £10,200, half of which can be set aside into cash ISA and the rest (or up to the full £10,200) into investment ISAs. (more…)

Savers looking to use up this years tax free individual savings accounts (ISA) allowance are in search of the best ISA rates before the new tax year begins.

All UK savers are eligible to an annual tax free savings allowance that can be used from 6 April to 5 April the following year.

Allowances cannot be overlapped across several tax years’, so the message to savers is ‘use it or lose it’.

Last year, the ISA allowance was raised to £10,200 from £7,200 for all those aged 50 and over, which was later rolled out to everyone else at the beginning of the current tax year.

Another increase to this allowance is planned for the next tax year which will become effective as of 6 April, pushing the amount at which savers can save without paying tax on their returns to £10,680.

The Bank of England base rate has continued to stay at it’s record low level of 0.5%, which has had a negative effect on interest rates offered on savings accounts.

However, ISA providers are expected to boost rates on some accounts to encourage savers to open an account with them.

The best rates on ISAs are currently paid to those that are willing to lock their funds away for a fixed period of time at a set rate – much like the more traditional fixed rate bond. These fixed rate ISAs offer an effective incentive to leave savings untouched.

Are you still searching for the best isa rates but haven’t chosen a fund for your 2009- 2010 individual savings account (Isa)? Unsure about stocks and shares Isas? Worried you have less than two weeks, but you haven’t had a chance to scour the market to see what’s available? By comparing the current best isa rates 2011 will be your best year yet!

●Step 1: decide on the level of risk you’re willing to take

If the current financial, economic and political climates has left you feeling uncertain, cautious, or nauseous (or all together), then attend to your symptoms with a Cautious Managed fund. This can help to offer relief from the pain of volatility – or at least, that’s what it says on the tin. M&G’s Cautious Multi Asset Fund claim to be able to help you “participate in rising asset markets while preserving capital as much as possible” – and since it was launched 3 years ago it has delivered 14.5%, outstripping the IMA Cautious Managed sector by 16.6%. The secret ingredient, known as an “active fund manager”, can “respond to the actual correlation of assets” and, in a 3-year clinical trial, minor discomfort to a 16.5% fall, peak to trough, while other leading brands lost 23%. (more…)

The new tax year is approaching, and with it comes a new top rate income tax, meaning that those fortunate enough to be earning over £150,000 will be required to pay 50% income tax on anything above this amount.

In addition, higher rate on dividends will move from 32.5% to 42.5% of the grossed up income (equivalent to 36.11% of the net dividend) for taxable income above £150,000.

As a result of the changes to become effective from 6 April, private banks and wealth managers have been advising those who will be affected to act now in order to protect their income. Many are taking steps to bring forward earnings to this tax year, or plan their finances in an attempt to lower the impact.

Below are some tips outlined by Which4U that higher earners should consider:

1. Make full use of all your tax allowances Many of us complain about how much tax we pay, but forget to take advantage of tax free breaks. The truth is, many of us could be missing a trick when it comes to tax relief.Always ensure you have used up your allowances by the end of every tax year. A popular tax free savings incentive is your first port of call, in the form of individual savings accounts (Isas), with an annual allowance of £10,200 (or £7,200 for those under 50 until April 6th), as well as tax-free National Savings & Investments products.No income tax is required to be paid for any interest or capital gains earned using Isas, so make sure you shop around to find the best Isa rates, or alternatively if you wish to invest in a stocks and shares Isa, do some research into the market.Transfer investments that provide an income to your spouse, if he or she does not work or has earnings that fall in a lower tax band. This now not only applies to spouses on the basic rate tax but also those paying 40%, if the other spouse currently earns above £150,000 per year.
2. Close your bank account According to advisers at Deloitte, those that have a savings account paying interest on an annual basis that is due to be paid after April, should consider closing the account before the new tax rules kick-in in, allowing the interest payment to be subject to a lower rate of income tax. After, you can simply open a new bank account.
3. Donate to charity in the new tax year After 6 April, high earners making donations using the Gift Aid scheme will qualify for higher tax relief, which means that more money will be given to the charity. However, you should think about the potential impact delaying your regular donations could have on the charity, especially in the current financial climate.
4. Accelerate your income Some employers have chosen to pay employees their salaries early to avoid the higher tax. Consider asking your employer if this is a possibility. This may be easier for those in entrepreneurial or family businesses.You can also make use of any share options you currently hold, as these attract income tax so you will pay the lower rate. Those already getting pension income are able to opt to receive annual payouts as a lump sum before the changeover date in April.
5. Add more to your pension fund in the new tax yearIt has become apparent that pensions are looking more of an unattractive option to higher earners, with tax relief cut to 20% on some contributions.However, if you do fall into this category, you may want to act fast. In the 2010/2011 tax year, those earning more than £150,000 will be eligible to put in at least £20,000 and up to £30,000 with 50% tax relief, before the new restrictions come into play in 2011.Advisers at Deloitte have suggested that people earning between £100,000 and £113,000 – who will effectively be paying 60% tax from April as a result of their personal allowance also being eroded – should also add to their pensions.
6. Consider venture capital trusts (VCTs) Although these start-up investment schemes can be quite risky, they are being labelled as an alternative to a pension fund for higher earners because contributions attract 30% tax on the way in.
7. Move your assets into an offshore bondOffshore bonds are investment bonds that are operated by life insurance companies and also have some life insurance attached to them. This enables you to avoid paying any tax until you encash the bond. The idea is that by the time you come to encash the bond, you may be subject to a lower rate of income tax, for example when you’re retired – or if you have become an expat or a non-dom, you may not have to pay any UK tax whatsoever. Many well known financial advisers are using this approach for clients.
8. Change from income investments to Capital Gains Tax In 2008, capital gains tax was lowered to 18%, and investors have since been looking to acquire returns that are taxed as capital gains rather than income. According to advisers, the 50% income tax band has sped-up this switch. Over the past year, demand for products such as zero dividend preference shares has significantly risen, as well as funds that work on a total return basis instead of generating income, such as absolute return funds.
9. Consider leaving the countryThis may seem like a rather extreme measure – but advisers at Cazenove and Schroders Private Bank have said that many of their clients are considering this option in response to the substantial tax demands.

   By Sam Gooch

Savers seeking the most effective way to save should not only build up a tax free savings pot using ISAs, but also be aware of the rates paid on balances to ensure they are earning the best ISA rates. bmi credit cards

This usually means transferring cash ISAs to get a better deal, but what are the rules around moving your cash between ISAs?

Which4U is aware that many savers are either baffled by the rules around ISAs, or not given useful information from providers. (more…)