Inheritance tax and estate planning


Considered inheritance tax and estate planning can help you pass on your assets securely and efficiently to the people and causes you care about.

Make plans that leave a legacy


Speak with an adviser to explore how your estate can support those you care about.

Common questions about IHT and estate planning

If you gave away more than £325,000 in the seven years before you died, those gifts would eliminate your IHT nil-rate band, and anyone who received a gift above this threshold would have to pay IHT. These gifts are taxed on a sliding scale, known as taper relief:

Years between gift and deathRate of tax
0 to 3 years40%
3 to 4 years 32%
4 to 5 years24%
5 to 6 years16%
6 to 7 years8%
7 or more years0%


Source: HMRC

Gifts to qualifying charities are exempt from IHT, regardless of the size of the gift. Leaving a gift to a charity in your will could reduce the IHT rate on your estate from 40% to 36%. However, it only applies if you leave at least 10% of your ‘net estate’ to charity.

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