Thanks for reading through everything Beaglehound. Yes, option 3 is also appealing (especially in its simplicity). The only caveat being, the exchange rate happened to be very favorable at the time of the trust's establishment. I could easily fit the full amount in the inheritance tax allowance at that rate, with room to spare should I need it later, but at the current rate, it would overflow it and leave nothing for later.Beaglehound wrote: ↑Tue Oct 29, 2024 8:22 am Usual caveats, but your option 3 sounds worth investigating to me. You have never actually had possession of any money as far as I can see, and if there is no trust anymore there is no gift...
If that were possible, would you not be better off waiting to actually inherit rather than go down the gift route? Apologies if I have missed something and you need the money now for whatever reason.
There is a reason to bring the money to Japan. Mostly that, as a foreign resident, I cannot easily invest the money in the UK. That is why the trust seemed best, because it allowed the money to be invested and managed by the trustees (because I am barred from doing so). My father could invest the money personally and let me inherit it at a later date, but by that time it would have grown even larger...
But closing the trust down recieveing at least the 25m that can be deferred to inheritance (tax free) is also a strong option, and one that requires much less interpretation on the nuances of Japanese tax code.