Income protection is a type of insurance that is often misunderstood in the UK. As with other types of insurance there are many advantages and disadvantages to having a policy, and here we list a few of them.
First, let's explain a little about income protection. This type of insurance will replace part of your income tax free if you cannot work because of accident, sickness or unemployment. There are many different types of policy, most of which can be adjusted according to your individual circumstances.
Advantages
Income protection can cover up to 70% of your mortgage. This could work out to be significantly more than the government would pay you in benefits.
Some long term policies offer cover until retirement age. This means that if you suffer a long term illness, you will receive your benefits either until you can return to work or until the age of 64.
The money can be used however you please. Most people choose to cover their mortgage, bills and other financial commitments, but it could be used for general lifestyle costs.
The policy can be tied into a particular debt, like a mortgage or credit card repayments.
You can choose cover for accident and sickness only, accident, sickness and unemployment, or unemployment cover only.
Unemployment cover could offer back to work schemes and training to help you find a new job.
Income protection can be designed to kick in only after your sick pay stops, so your premiums are lower.
Disadvantages
Unemployment cover will only pay out for a maximum of 12 months, even if you haven't found a new job within this time.
Accident, sickness and unemployment policies usually only offer 12 months of benefits as well. Long term-policies offer better cover, but are sometimes more expensive.
Pre-existing conditions may not be covered on your policy, so it is important to take one out before you need it.
Similarly, you will not be covered for redundancy if you already knew there was a chance it was going to happen. This protects the insurance companies against people taking advantages of the policy.
Smokers will usually pay higher premiums for accident and sickness cover because they are more likely to fall ill.
It is important never to buy a policy without researching the market first to get the best deal; otherwise you could be paying more than you need to.
Now you know the advantages and disadvantages, it is up to you to decide whether income protection is right for you!
Showing posts with label Income. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Income. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Ordinary Income v. Capital Gains on Selling Foreclosed Property
Ordinary Income v. Capital Gains on Selling Foreclosed Property
WENDELL V. AND SHARON T. GARRISON v. COMMISSIONER
U.S. TAX COURT
December 1, 2010
Facts: Wendell Garrison, in the years under question, 1998 to 2000, was a Mortgage Broker making about ,000 a year from his mortgage business. Also during this time period he and his wife bought and sold foreclosed properties, flipping them as quickly as possible, holding them for a period averaging about four months. The Garrisons reported the income from the properties as capital gains rather than ordinary income. The IRS claimed that the properties were not bought as longer-term investments, but were merely inventory in the ongoing business of buying and quickly reselling foreclosed houses. The IRS sent a notice of deficiency stating that since this was ordinary income, self-employment taxes were also due against the earnings. The Garrisons appealed the ruling to the Tax Court
Analysis and Conclusion: Prior Court rulings have outlined the criteria for whether the buying and selling of property should be considered capital gains or ordinary income (see box below). Since the Court saw the Garrisons as buying and selling homes on an ongoing basis, rather than investing in them for the longer term, the Court considered their activities to be a Schedule C business earning ordinary business income. Therefore, they had to pay employment taxes on their selfemployment income. The ruling was in favor of the IRS.
Notes: This is a particularly timely case with the vast amount of foreclosures currently on the market. No doubt, if one of your clients dabbles in the business of buying and selling foreclosed properties, they need to understand that their activities can be considered a side business earning ordinary income.
Source: National Society of Tax Professionals: Federal Tax Alert, December 2010
WENDELL V. AND SHARON T. GARRISON v. COMMISSIONER
U.S. TAX COURT
December 1, 2010
Facts: Wendell Garrison, in the years under question, 1998 to 2000, was a Mortgage Broker making about ,000 a year from his mortgage business. Also during this time period he and his wife bought and sold foreclosed properties, flipping them as quickly as possible, holding them for a period averaging about four months. The Garrisons reported the income from the properties as capital gains rather than ordinary income. The IRS claimed that the properties were not bought as longer-term investments, but were merely inventory in the ongoing business of buying and quickly reselling foreclosed houses. The IRS sent a notice of deficiency stating that since this was ordinary income, self-employment taxes were also due against the earnings. The Garrisons appealed the ruling to the Tax Court
Analysis and Conclusion: Prior Court rulings have outlined the criteria for whether the buying and selling of property should be considered capital gains or ordinary income (see box below). Since the Court saw the Garrisons as buying and selling homes on an ongoing basis, rather than investing in them for the longer term, the Court considered their activities to be a Schedule C business earning ordinary business income. Therefore, they had to pay employment taxes on their selfemployment income. The ruling was in favor of the IRS.
Notes: This is a particularly timely case with the vast amount of foreclosures currently on the market. No doubt, if one of your clients dabbles in the business of buying and selling foreclosed properties, they need to understand that their activities can be considered a side business earning ordinary income.
Source: National Society of Tax Professionals: Federal Tax Alert, December 2010
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