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FCA-Authorised Advisers | Whole-of-Market Access
British Life makes it easy to find the right Relevant Life Insurance quote with expert guidance and no fees.
We find you quotes from the whole UK market
Securing a Relevant Life Insurance policy shouldn’t mean navigating complicated financial products alone. British Life connects you with specialists who can find you the perfect cover for your situation:
Expert guidance ensures your policy delivers genuine tax benefits and proper protection.
Especially when you’re trying to understand how it differs from personal life insurance policy options, or whether the tax implications are worth it.
We know that comparing relevant life cover means navigating different provider definitions, discretionary trust arrangements, and small print that makes a real difference when claims are made.
Rest assured, we’re here to help. We connect you with advisers who explain your options in plain English, and support you through the process without sales pressure."
James Stait,
British Life
Getting the right Relevant Life Insurance quote doesn’t have to be complicated, but it does require expert guidance. Comparing relevant life policies means understanding tax implications, discretionary trust requirements, and small print that makes a real difference if a claim is ever needed.
That’s why British Life exists: to connect you with advisers who truly understand Relevant Life Insurance. We work with all major UK providers, so you’ll receive comparisons on cost, key features, and whether additional benefits like critical illness make sense. In short: you’ll be confident that you’re covered in exactly the right way.
Picture knowing your relevant life policy is structured correctly from day one. The employee’s family is properly protected and the sum assured reflects actual needs, not guesswork.
Discover how straightforward Relevant Life Insurance cover can be.
A Relevant Life Insurance policy is taken out by an employer for an employee or director. The employer pays premiums as a business expense, getting corporation tax relief. The policy is written in trust, so if the person covered dies, beneficiaries receive a tax-free lump sum directly without inheritance tax. It's more tax-efficient than personal life insurance for employees in a limited company.
Relevant life cover offers significant tax efficiency. Premiums are a tax-deductible business expense for the employer. The person covered doesn't pay income tax or National Insurance contributions because it's not a benefit-in-kind. The payout is a tax-free lump sum, and if written in trust, avoids inheritance tax. This makes it more cost-effective than personal life insurance policy alternatives.
No, Relevant Life Insurance is only available for employees and directors of limited companies, limited liability partnerships, or equity partners. Sole traders don't qualify because they're not employees of a company. Sole traders need personal life insurance instead, which doesn't offer the same tax advantages.
Relevant life policies are individual policies for specific employees, whilst a group scheme covers many employees under one policy. Relevant life offers more flexibility and isn't affected by the lifetime allowance on pension funds. For businesses with too few employees for a group scheme, or for high earners with substantial pension funds, relevant life is often more appropriate.
If the person insured dies, the relevant life policy pays out the agreed sum assured as a tax-free lump sum. Because it's written in trust, the money goes directly to beneficiaries (typically the employee's family or civil partnership partner) without forming part of the estate. This ensures the employee's family receives financial support quickly without inheritance tax reducing the payout.
No, relevant life cover doesn't count towards the lifetime allowance on pension funds, making it particularly attractive for high earners who already have substantial pension funds. This is a key advantage over death-in-service benefits provided through pension schemes, which can affect the lifetime allowance.
This type of policy can provide a complete tax-free solution to life insurance for company directors where both the premiums and the lump-sum payment in the event of a claim are tax-free. The premiums are not classed as a benefit-in-kind and, if the policy is written into a discretionary trust, then any payout is not subject to inheritance tax. Read more
A Relevant Life Insurance Policy for Company Directors is a way of providing death-in-service benefits on an individual basis no matter how small your business is. They are not classed as a ‘benefit in kind’ so no tax is payable on the premiums. In most cases the benefits can be paid free of inheritance tax provided the benefits are payable through a discretionary trust.
If you’re a company director and you already have life insurance in place to protect your family, you could be paying more tax than you need to.
What are the benefits?
What are the advantages of using a discretionary trust?
Are there any limits to the cover I have?
Who are relevant life policies suitable for?
This type of protection cover will require two separate policies for a company director as critical illness cover is classed as a benefit-in-kind (unlike the life insurance element - see above) and will not therefore qualify for a tax exemption on the premiums.
This type of policy pays out a regular monthly benefit should a company director become too ill or injured to work. It is popular with contractors and directors working in their own limited company and covers up to 80% of their income (wages or dividends) in a tax-efficient way. Read more
Executive Income Protection operates in a very similar way to Personal Income Protection, providing a regular income if the person insured is unable to work due to illness or injury.
The main difference between the two types of policy is that Executive Income Protection can cover up to 80% of the individual’s income, whether from wages or dividends or both, whereas most standard policies typically only cover up to 60%.
As such, it is an attractive benefit for high-earning small business owners and contractors.
The cost of the premiums is determined by how much cover is required, the age of the individual to be covered, any existing or past health conditions, what their current role entails, how long the cover is to last, and how long they are prepared to defer the first payment.
The premiums are paid by the company and are tax-deductible, which is an additional saving compared to personal policies.
Along with other benefits available, Executive Income Protection can be a valuable component of an overall financial plan, especially those with high incomes and significant financial responsibilities.
For free advice, speak to a UK based adviser on
0333 987 3960* (9am-5pm Mon-Fri)
The telephone service is provided in partnership with BQI Protection Ltd and the quotation service is provided by an FCA-authorised insurance specialist
It is possible to be protected with a life insurance or critical illness policy within 20 minutes provided the insurer does not require a GP report or medical.
A GP report or medical is normally required for large amounts of cover (over £400,000), or if your BMI is over 30, or you have any significant ongoing or past medical issues, or if you are involved in dangerous job or high risk hobby.
Find out how much cover you might need by using our simple online calculator. It will take into account your outstanding mortgage, any loans or credit cards, your monthly income and how many children you have.
Ultimately the right amount of cover is often a balance between what might be an ideal figure and what you can sensibly afford.
We have tracked down the very best protection insurance advisers in the UK to ensure you have access to great advice and the best products from the leading insurers.
Instead of pushy sales people, our advisers offer a more personalised service to guide you through the process and ensure you enjoy lasting peace of mind by making an informed choice.
Outstanding service and knowledgeable customer service rep. I received a call as promised in my email. Marie was very knowledgeable in her subject matter, she took some basic details and was very polite and courteous in her manner.
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