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Anything left to a spouse or civil partner is EXEMPT from inheritance tax. Inheritance tax is a tax on the 'estate' of someone who's passed away. But as we've said, only around one in 25 families (around 4%) have to pay it, as most estates fall below the inheritance tax threshold.
- 4 min
If your estate is sufficiently large, inheritance tax (IHT) may be charged after you pass away. But there are ways you can cut your estate's tax bill and increase the tax-free amount being passed on to your heirs. Read on to find out how you can minimise your inheritance tax.
- Inheritance Tax rates
- Who pays the tax to HMRC
Example
Your estate is worth £500,000 and your tax-free threshold is £325,000. The Inheritance Tax charged will be 40% of £175,000 (£500,000 minus £325,000). The estate can pay Inheritance Tax at a reduced rate of 36% on some assets if you leave 10% or more of the ‘net value’ to charity in your will. (The net value is the estate’s total value minus any debts.)
Reliefs and exemptions
Some gifts you give while you’re alive may be taxed after your death. Depending on when you gave the gift, ‘taper relief’ might mean the Inheritance Tax charged on the gift is less than 40%. Other reliefs, such as Business Relief, allow some assets to be passed on free of Inheritance Tax or with a reduced bill. Contact the Inheritance Tax helpline about Agricultural Relief if your estate includes a farm or woodland.
Funds from your estate are used to pay Inheritance Tax to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC). This is done by the person dealing with the estate (called the ‘executor’, if there’s a will).
Your beneficiaries (the people who inherit your estate) do not normally pay tax on things they inherit. They may have related taxes to pay, for example if they get rental income from a house left to them in a will.
If you leave your whole estate to your spouse or civil partner, no IHT is payable on your estate. You don't need to pay IHT on anything you leave to charity. And if you leave 10% or more of your estate to charity, then a reduced rate of 36% tax may apply to what's left over.
Annual exemption. You can give away a total of £3,000 worth of gifts each tax year without them being added to the value of your estate. This is known as your ‘annual exemption’. You can give...
3 days ago · Inheritance tax of 40% is paid if you leave assets and cash in your estate worth more than £325,000. Find out how inheritance tax (IHT) works, how to reduce it, and use our inheritance tax calculator.
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Sep 6, 2024 · Inheritance tax is due if you leave assets valued above a certain amount to your loved ones after you die. It is normally charged at a rate of 40% but there are lots of quirks and perks in the system, which we explain in this guide. In this article we cover: What is inheritance tax? What are the UK inheritance tax thresholds?
