US-UK tax planning in London
Tax Planning in London for Cross-Border Clients
Tax planning in London for Americans and high-net-worth individuals whose wealth spans the US and the UK — the credits, treaty positions and timing decisions that make the two systems work together, not against you.
London is where American wealth and the UK tax system meet most often — and where the cost of getting the interaction wrong is highest. Tax planning in London for a cross-border client is not about a single clever trick; it is about arranging income, investments, company holdings and disposals so the US and UK rules line up and no relief is lost.
TaxYork plans and files both sides together. We apply the Foreign Tax Credit and the US-UK treaty, choose the right elections on funds and company interests, and time the events — a sale, an option exercise, a move, a pension drawdown — so they fall the right side of two different tax years.
Every engagement starts with a review and a fixed quote, so you know the cost and the plan before we begin.
What our London tax planning covers
Cross-Border Planning
Elections, structure and the timing of disposals and equity events modelled before you commit.
Cross-border planningTax Treaty Optimisation
The US-UK treaty applied to pensions, dividends, gains and remittances.
Treaty planningPrivate Client Tax
The full high-net-worth picture across investments, property and business.
Private client taxUS & UK Tax Returns
Form 1040 and UK Self Assessment prepared together so figures reconcile.
US & UK returnsIRS Streamlined Filing
Behind on US filing? Catch up penalty-free before you plan ahead.
Catch up on filingFree Calculators
Model your US and UK position before you get in touch.
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Good tax planning happens before the event, not after. In London, where US and UK wealth meet, timing is everything.
Talk to usWhy cross-border tax planning is different in London
US citizens are taxed on worldwide income wherever they live, so an American in London files with both the IRS and HMRC every year. The two systems have different tax years, different rules on investments and pensions, and different views of the same transaction. Planning that ignores one side usually creates a bill on the other.
The 2025 reform of the UK’s non-dom rules and the new Foreign Income and Gains regime make timing and residence planning more important than ever for high-net-worth arrivers and leavers.
Where planning saves the most
Selling a business or shares. UK Business Asset Disposal Relief and the US rules on the same sale rarely agree; planning the structure and timing protects the gain.
Investments. UK funds and ISAs are usually PFICs to the IRS. Choosing what to hold, and making the right election in time, avoids a punitive US charge.
Equity pay. Options and share awards are taxed on different dates in each country; the US-UK treaty and careful timing keep the two in step.
Pensions and residence. Becoming or ceasing to be UK resident, and how you draw a pension, both change your worldwide bill — and both are far cheaper to plan before the event.
One team, both systems, before the event
The value of tax planning is almost always in acting early. We work alongside your UK accountant, wealth manager and lawyers, model the US and UK outcome of the decision in front of you, and document the position so it holds up. If you have fallen behind first, most non-wilful taxpayers come back into compliance penalty-free through the IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures before any planning begins.
Cross-border tax planning vs UK-only advice
A London accountant can plan your UK tax beautifully — and still leave a US charge you never saw coming.
| What you get | Cross-border (TaxYork) | UK-only adviser |
|---|---|---|
| Plans the US and UK outcome together | ||
| Applies the US-UK tax treaty | ||
| PFIC / Form 5471 aware | ||
| Times events across two tax years | Rarely | |
| Foreign Tax Credit planning | ||
| Files both returns |
Why London clients choose TaxYork
Both sides, one plan
US and UK modelled together, so a UK saving does not trigger a US charge.
Timing is everything
We plan before the sale, the move or the exercise — when the options are widest.
London and cross-border
Our London team specialises in the US-UK corridor and works with your other advisers.
Fixed fees
A clear price after a short review, so there are no surprises.
How it works
Consultation
We review your income, wealth and the decision in front of you on both sides.
Fixed quote
A clear fee and a plan for the US and UK outcome.
Modelling
We model the options and set out the most tax-efficient route.
File & follow through
We implement, file both returns and keep you compliant.
Frequently asked questions
What does tax planning in London involve for a US citizen?
For an American in London it means arranging your affairs so the US and UK tax systems work together rather than against each other — applying the Foreign Tax Credit and the US-UK treaty, choosing the right elections on investments and company holdings, and timing income and disposals across the two different tax years so the combined bill is as low as the rules allow.
Do I need US-UK tax planning or just a UK accountant?
If you are a US citizen or green card holder, a UK-only accountant cannot see the US side — and it is the interaction between the two systems where the tax is won or lost. Cross-border tax planning covers both, so a decision that saves UK tax does not accidentally trigger a US charge.
When is the best time to do tax planning?
Before events, not after. Selling a business or shares, exercising options, moving money, becoming or ceasing to be UK resident, and taking a pension are all far cheaper to plan for in advance. Once the transaction has happened, the options narrow sharply.
Can tax planning reduce both my US and UK tax?
Yes. The goal of cross-border planning is a single, coordinated position where the Foreign Tax Credit and treaty articles are applied correctly, elections are made in time, and the timing of income is managed — so you are not taxed twice and no relief is wasted.
Do you offer tax planning to high-net-worth clients in London?
Yes. Our London office focuses on the US-UK corridor and works with high-net-worth individuals, business owners and investors, alongside their other advisers.
How much does tax planning cost?
We quote a fixed fee up front after a short review of your situation, so you know the cost before any work begins. Book a consultation for a clear number.
Get in Touch
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your US taxes
sorted?
Whether you need help with IRS Streamlined filings, annual US tax returns, or cross-border tax planning — our team is here for you.
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