Inheritance Tax (IHT)

The government levies tax on the value of a person’s estate, if their estate is worth more than the Nil Rate Band. The IHT ‘Nil Rate Band’ (NRB) is currently £325,000 (2024/2025) and many people are still getting caught in the trap of property inheritance tax as the threshold has not kept pace with the inflation of property prices, and so is affecting more and more people.

There is also an additional ‘main residence’ allowance (‘Property Nil Rate Band’ (PNRB)) which applies if a person’s home is given to their children (including adopted, foster or stepchildren), surviving husband or wife, or grandchildren. This is set at £175,000 (2024/2025) and is added to the IHT threshold providing a total allowance of £500,000 (2024/2025).

When a relative dies and leaves an estate worth more than £325,000 (2024/2025) or £500,000 (2024/2025) if the ‘main residence’ allowance applies, families are required to pay tax on the amount in excess of the NRB (and PNRB if applicable) within six months. After that, they are charged interest at a rate of 7.75% (2024/2025).

However, there are ways to lessen the burden of property IHT.

When you die, it is likely that you would wish to leave as much as possible for your loved ones. Unfortunately, this is often not as simple as you might expect. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will apply 40% tax to the value of your estate over and above that of the NRB (and PNRB) that applies at the time of death.

No IHT is applicable on ‘inter-spousal transfers’ (money/property/assets that is bequeathed by one spouse (or civil partner) to the other.

Your estate could include more than you originally realise. It is often easy to dismiss IHT as something that may not affect you as your property may not be over, or much over, the IHT threshold. However, with all your other assets, such as investments, life cover, bank accounts, as well as physical property such as cars, furniture and family heirlooms, many estates are considerably over the threshold without the individuals being aware of it.

For assets passed between spouses and civil partners, the nil rate band allowance will pass along with the assets. This gives a couple available allowances (nil rate bands) of up to £650,000 (2024/2025), which increases to £1,000,000 (2024/2025) with the addition of the ‘main residence’ allowance detailed above.

For further information about Inheritance Tax please click here.