The Landed Estates and Rural Business Group of UK top 20 Chartered Accountant Saffery Champness is now providing information on video relating to matters that affect the rural sector.

The first two in what is likely to be a series of short films can now be viewed on the Saffery Champness website. These cover Planning for Succession and Making the most of the Annual Investment Allowance (AIA) with Saffery Champness Partner Tim Gregory talking through these two subjects.

Much of the advice in the short film on AIA relates to timing of the purchase of plant and equipment for which the annual allowance increased last year to £500,000. However, its planned reduction to just £25,000 at 1 January 2016 could have dramatic impact on some rural businesses. In the film, Tim Gregory explains how the limit has to be pro-rated over fiscal and financial years and, with the reduced limit now less than 12 months away, farm businesses intending to invest in new equipment will need to be making decisions fairly swiftly in order to qualify for the higher rate.

Regarding planning for succession, Tim Gregory explains why such activity is good practice, and what form it can take - such as a Family Charter or a Family Plan. This can help to ensure the passing of assets, for example the family farm, from one generation to the next with minimum dispute among family members and in respect of the various tax hurdles that need to be considered throughout the process. A proper succession plan, written down, can reduce tensions among family members and ease this transition, says Tim Gregory.

The two short videos which are both under five minutes in length can be viewed on the Saffery Champness website at: http://www.saffery.com/news-and-events/videos/gallery/