A Family Investment Company (FIC) is a private company (limited or unlimited) that is controlled and run by its directors (usually the parents), with family members (usually children) owning the shares. All day-to-day control and investment decisions are vested in the directors. A FIC can therefore be used by the individuals who want to transfer value to family members (or other individuals) but retain some control over the assets gifted and/or the access of the recipients.

A Family Investment Company (‘FIC’) offers:

• A means to pass on wealth down the generations;
• The ability to retain control whilst giving up beneficial ownership;
• Asset protection;
• Protection against inheritance tax (IHT)
• Tax savings and deferral.

How do they work?

The governing Articles and provisions of a FIC can be tailored to the specific needs of the family, covering aspects such as distribution of profits, the return of capital, transfer of shares and the appointment of directors.

Usually, the parents retain control by subscribing for shares with voting rights. They can then choose to gift non-voting shares to their children or gift them cash for them to subscribe for non-voting shares. Alternatively, the parents could settle shares or cash for subscription of shares onto a trust for the benefit of their children.

Further protection may be built into the Company in relation to the children’s shares if required (e.g. pre-emption rights, enabling you both to acquire the shares from the children in the future).

Tax benefits

In addition to being able to pass down wealth without an immediate inheritance tax charge, FICs can be efficient tax vehicles that bring income within the corporation tax regime instead of the charge to personal taxes.

A company will pay corporation tax at 19% which is generally lower than the personal income tax rates (the top rate being 45%). In addition, no corporation tax will be payable on a majority of dividends received by a company and most management and business expenses will be deductible for corporation tax purposes. Such expenses are not tax relievable for individuals.

FICs are particularly efficient if profits are retained in the structure for reinvestment. There will be additional tax if profits are extracted from the company.