IHT receipts reach £6 billion record

The amount of inheritance tax (IHT) collected by HMRC over the past year reached a record £6 billion, some £1 billion more than the previous 12 months. This increase comes as no surprise given booming property values and frozen nil rate tax bands. It seems the tax is no longer the preserve of the super-rich.

The IHT nil rate band has not been uprated for 12 years and is set to remain at £325,000 for another four. For a reasonably well-off couple, the loss of indexing means around an additional £200,000 of assets being subject to tax. The residence nil rate band (RNRB) is also fixed, at £175,000, until 2026.

Property
Although the nil rate bands total £1 million for a couple, the average value of a terraced house in London, for example, is now over £700,000. Unfortunately, there may be little scope for any IHT planning if the value of your estate comes mainly from your property. However, it is important to have an up-to-date will, and to make the best use of reliefs and exemptions – especially the RNRB.
You might wish to take out life assurance if you want your heirs to hold on to your home, rather than being forced to sell to fund IHT. The policy should be written in trust and increase in line with property values.

Planning
Any IHT planning will depend on your age, assets and how much you can afford to gift without impacting your lifestyle. Professional advice is always recommended, but there are some important considerations:

• Pensions: There are various possibilities, but, for example, you could fund pension contributions for your children or grandchildren. The recipient can benefit from tax relief, and your estate is reduced over time without the need for a large capital gift.
• Business property relief: Riskier, and there is no guarantee of future exemption, but you might consider ISAs that are invested in the AIM market. The ISAs will escape IHT after being held for two years.

HMRC’s basic guide to how IHT works, including details of various exemptions, can be found here.

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