BUY BORROW DIE (UK) — How the Wealthy Pay Less Tax (Legally)
If you earn a salary in the UK, you’re taxed before you even touch your money (Income Tax, National Insurance, student loan, etc). But many wealthy people don’t “earn” money the same way. They buy assets, borrow against them, and avoid selling so they don’t trigger tax events.
In this video I explain Buy, Borrow, Die in plain English, why salary earners get hit hardest, how fiscal drag quietly increases tax, and what you can start doing to play the game properly (legally).
In this video I break down: Why salary earners lose (PAYE and high effective rates) Fiscal drag: how frozen thresholds push more people into higher-rate tax The £1 journey: how tax compounds across your lifetime (VAT, duty, CGT, IHT) Buy → Borrow → Die explained (and why loans are not income) The refinancing example: releasing cash without selling Why “don’t sell” is the whole point (selling triggers Capital Gains Tax) How normal people apply the principles (assets over income, structure, good debt vs bad debt)
Important: this is not about dodging tax. It’s about understanding the rules and not paying more than you’re legally required to.
Disclaimer This video is for general information only and is not tax, legal, or financial advice. Tax rules depend on your circumstances and can change. We do not support or promote tax evasion — this is about staying compliant and planning within the law.
Chapters
0:00 – Why most people “work for HMRC” Jan–May + Buy Borrow Die intro 0:47 – Why salary earners lose (Income Tax/NI + high effective rates) 2:14 – Fiscal drag: frozen thresholds pulling millions into higher bands 3:22 – The lifetime tax stack: what happens to £1 you earn 4:45 – What the wealthy do differently (low salary, buy assets, don’t sell) 6:11 – Buy → Borrow → Die explained (refinancing example, loans are not income) 8:35 – Real-world examples + why it works at every level 10:04 – How normal people apply it (structure, asset focus, good vs bad debt) + close
