UK Inheritance Tax Planning

Inheritance Tax is a tax that is levied by the government when wealth is gifted either during your lifetime or on your death.

The current Inheritance Tax limit for the 2011/2012 tax year is £325,000 and this allowance is known as the Nil Rate Band. If the total value of your financial assets is more than the Nil Rate Band, it is possible that Inheritance Tax may be payable on the value of your assets over this amount. The rate of Inheritance Tax upon death is currently 40%.

Inheritance Tax payable on death is based on the value of your estate when you die. This will include:

Everything you own at the date of your death e.g. your property, bank accounts, investments, personal belongings such as cars, jewellery, expensive electrical goods and antiques
Your share of anything owned jointly with your spouse or any other person
The value of any trust fund from which you are entitled to benefit e.g. receiving an income
The value of any gifts made by you in the last seven years before you die and which are not covered by any exemptions
The value of any assets which you have given away but still get a benefit from e.g. if you give away a house and still live there

People who are UK domiciled (i.e. were born here or have moved here and severed ties with their country of birth or have lived permanently in the UK for 17 of the last 20 years) are liable to Inheritance Tax on their UK and worldwide assets. People who are not UK domiciled are liable to Inheritance Tax on the value of their UK assets only.

There are some beneficiaries who are exempt from paying Inheritance Tax - these exemptions include charities and your spouse (although you should bear in mind that anything you leave to your spouse will increase the value of their estate and may result in a tax liability on their death depending on the value of the estate). Some assets also attract relief from Inheritance Tax e.g. agricultural and business assets.

If you think that your estate would be liable to Inheritance Tax and are worried about it, the first thing you should do is get legal advice from an Inheritance Tax Solicitor.

There are several things that can be done to minimise your Inheritance Tax liability. Our specialist team of Inheritance Tax Solicitors can help you arrange your financial affairs in the most tax efficient way possible.

For a consultation with a specialist Wills, Probate, Tax or Trusts Lawyer please call Forbes Solicitors on freephone 0800 975 2463 or contact us by email today.