4 succession planning tips for the family farm

Aug 30, 2016
Author: Dan Wood
Dan acts as a commercial partner for a wide range of clients. Dan specialises in advising businesses in the agriculture sector.
Succession planning tips family farm

Have you thought about succession and the long-term plans for your family farm?

Succession planning is all about working with your family and is an essential part of running your family farm – used to protect your assets, your business and your family.

This article follows on from the NFU Mutual ‘Succession Sunday’ which was held on 29 May 2016 to encourage members of farming families to get together start talking about succession planning and the long-term future of their farms.

As agriculture makes up the highest concentration of family businesses passed through the generations, it is no surprise that succession is a central management issue and is something farmers need to carefully consider.

When thinking of passing on the business, succession only really succeeds optimally when it is prepared for. It is important succession planning is seen not necessarily about retirement but as a process of creating a long-term plan for the farming business, its goals and a plan of how to achieve them.

Succession planning, particularly in family farms, however, can be a difficult challenge involving multiple generations and a desire to avoid conflict, which is why we have published this article: 4 succession planning tips for the family farm.

Start the conversation early

In our experience it is never too early for families to start having discussions about succession. This isn’t easy as it is a very emotive subject, but it is absolutely essential for all sides to get the ball rolling and start this difficult conversation.

This is the main reason for the recent campaign ‘Succession Sunday’ – to get farming families around the table and start planning to secure the future of the farming business. Insurance firm NFU Mutual, who coined the idea, found that only 40% of farmers currently have effective succession plans in place.

Similarly, a recent Farmers Weekly survey of 61 young farmers found that 70% do not have a succession plan in place, citing fear of offending and embarrassment to parents as the main reason for non-discussion.

The older you become the more difficult and risky succession planning becomes.

Getting the tax right

While tax should perhaps not be the main driver for succession, there are some important tax considerations when thinking about succession planning for the family farm. These also have legal implications. In particular, the two key tax implications to consider are Inheritance Tax (IHT) and Capital Gains Tax (GCT). The tax aspects of succession planning can be complicated and, as tax laws continue to change, it is essential that you seek sound and proactive professional advice in this area.

Financial planning and protecting your family

Pensions and investments can play an important part in succession planning for the family farm.

For example, will you have enough provision to support yourself after retirement? It is also extremely important to consider the impact of major life changes on the business. Birth, marriage, divorce or, in the worst scenario, death can all have a considerable effect on the family business, so it is essential to protect against potential damaging impacts as well as allowing for new opportunities. The need to have adequate financial security and protection in place cannot be overstated.

Again, it is essential you seek professional advice in this area.

Seek professional advice

As you can see above, seeking professional advice is very important when succession planning for the family farm.

Involving your accountant (and solicitor) at an early stage in the succession planning process means they can work together to help you identify options as well as potential pitfalls – including tax – to avoid.

As Hawsons have a team of dedicated agriculture accountants we are well-placed to work with your family, getting to understand your farming business and help you create an effective succession plan. Working closely with the experts from our in-house tax department and wealth management team, we can help you ensure that your succession plan is tax-efficient and takes into account all of your financial planning requirements.

If you are thinking about succession planning, please get in touch and book a free initial meeting with one of our experts.

More from our agriculture experts

You can find all of our latest agriculture sector news and newsletters here.

If you are looking for advice in a particular area, please get in touch with your usual Hawsons contact.

Alternatively, we offer all new clients a free initial meeting to have a discussion about their own personal circumstances – find out more or book your free initial meeting here. We have offices in Sheffield, Doncaster and Northampton.

Martin Wilmott is a partner at Hawsons

Martin Wilmott acts as lead engagement partner for a wide range of corporate and non-corporate clients in the Doncaster office, especially in the Legal and professional, agricultural, transport, property and construction, manufacturing, healthcare and hospitality sectors. For more information or advice on anything covered in this article please contact Martin on maw@hawsons.co.uk or 01302 367 262.