IHT – limitations on spouse or civil partner exemptions
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a tax that is levied on a person’s estate when they die and can also be payable during a person’s lifetime on certain trusts and gifts. The rate of Inheritance Tax payable is 40% on death and 20% on lifetime gifts. There is a nil-rate band, currently £325,000 below which no
Leaving gifts to charity in your Will
The government introduced new rules to encourage charitable giving on death in 2012. The rule which has remained unchanged ever since means that a reduced rate of Inheritance Tax (IHT) of 36% (reduced from 40%) applies where 10% or more of a deceased’s net estate is left to charity. The lower rate
IHT and domicile
Domicile is a general legal concept which in basic terms is taken to mean the country where you permanently belong but actually determining domicile status can be complex. HMRC guidance states that domicile cannot be defined precisely, but the concept rests on various basic principles.
Although
IHT change of domicile
It is possible in certain circumstances for an individual to have two domiciles although this is unusual. There is a concept in the UK of deemed domicile, whereby any person who has been resident in the UK for more than 15 of the previous 20 years will be deemed to be domiciled in the UK for tax
Who pays Inheritance Tax?
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is commonly collected on a person’s estate when they die but can also be payable during a person’s lifetime on certain trusts and gifts. The rate of IHT currently payable is 40% on death and 20% on lifetime gifts. IHT is payable at a reduced rate on some assets if 10% or more
Inheritance Tax Business Relief
There are a number of reliefs available that can reduce liability to IHT if you inherit the estate of someone who has died. One of these reliefs is known as Business Relief and is a valuable tax relief for taxpayers with business interests, offering either 50% or 100% relief from IHT on the value of
IHT – settled and excluded property
A trust is an obligation that binds a trustee, an individual or a company, to deal with the assets such as land, money and shares which form part of the trust. The person who places assets into a trust is known as a settlor and the trust is for the benefit of one or more ‘beneficiaries’. The act of
The 7-year rule
Most gifts made during a person’s lifetime are not subject to Inheritance Tax at the time of the gift. These lifetime transfers are known as ‘potentially exempt transfers’ or ‘PETs’. These gifts or transfers achieve their potential of becoming exempt if the taxpayer survives for more than 7-years
IHT immediately chargeable transfers
There are special rules concerning the liability to IHT on a transfer made during a person’s lifetime. Most gifts made during this period are not subject to tax at the time of the gift.
These lifetime transfers are known as ‘potentially exempt transfers’ or ‘PETs’. The gifts or transfers achieve
OTS recommended changes to IHT
The Financial Secretary to the Treasury has written to the Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) to confirm that HM Treasury strongly supports some key recommendations on changes to Inheritance Tax.
The government announced on 23 March 2021 that it will:
change reporting regulations so that from 1