Gifts with reservation of benefit

Gifting assets can cut inheritance tax, but traps like “gifts with reservation of benefit” may undo the plan. The majority of gifts made during a person's lifetime are not subject to tax at the time they are made. These lifetime transfers are known as...

Trusts and Income Tax

Trustees must manage assets, follow tax rules, and register with HMRC where required. A trust is a legal arrangement in which a trustee, either an individual or a company, is entrusted with managing assets such as land, money, or shares on behalf of others. These...

Estate valuation for IHT purposes

Before probate begins, you must estimate the estate's value to see if Inheritance Tax applies. This includes valuing the deceased person's money, property and belongings in order to determine if Inheritance Tax (IHT) is due. This process is important...

Current Inheritance Tax thresholds

Married couples can pass on up to £1 million tax-free if they plan their estates carefully. The Inheritance Tax  (IHT) nil-rate band is currently £325,000. This means there is normally no IHT to pay if an estate is valued below this threshold. This...