Readers’ forum: Are there any tax implications with gender reassignment?

Gender identity

My client who is a successful businessman with several companies and a large property portfolio has recently told me that he is about to undergo gender reassignment surgery and apply for a gender reassignment certificate. He has asked me if there are any tax implications of which he should be aware.

This is not something which I have had to consider before. I cannot see that there are any particular tax issues but I did wonder about pensions. In the past with different retirement ages for men and women there might have been complications but my client is 50 and by the time she retires there will be a common retirement age so I do not foresee any difficulties.

Are there any other areas to think about? Also is there a process under which HMRC needs to be notified of the reassignment or...