Estate planning involves developing a strategy to deal with your assets after you die – the legal instruments and structures, such as a will, you put in place to transfer your assets in the event of death.

Tax is a major consideration in estate planning, and strong governance relating to the tax aspects of estate administration can help manage the risks.

Ensure you or your staff have sufficient knowledge and skills to meet your responsibilities. Be prepared to seek assistance from external advisers on more complex tax issues.

Estate planning may be considered as part of your overall succession plan for your business. You may need to seek specialist advice on the most appropriate estate planning strategy.

Have a process in place to periodically review your strategy in conjunction with your advisers, including your legal, tax, superannuation and financial advisers.

Beware of schemes that claim to have estate planning purposes but are merely tax avoidance arrangements. An effective tax governance framework includes processes for evaluating various arrangements and the tax risks involved.

Useful Resources:
Estate Planning | Australian Taxation Office

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