HMRC increases IHT investigations

Posted on 24th February 2026

Investigations have identified estates which have underpaid inheritance tax (IHT). As a result, HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has reclaimed £millions of payments.

The process includes obtaining information from government bodies and other agencies including the Land Registry and the Trust Registration Service. Discrepancies in information from different sources will help to identify underpayments.

Increasing prices for family homes mean more estates will pay inheritance tax.

Government changes its mind about IHT thresholds

Posted on 26th January 2026

Announcements in the Autumn Budget 2024 changed Inheritance Tax (IHT) rules for farmers and family businesses.

However, in December 2025 the government changed its mind, following criticism and protests.

The government has changed its approach to Inheritance Tax for farmers and family businesses.

Digital assets now recognised as personal property

Posted on 9th January 2026

Digital assets like cryptocurrency are now legally recognised as property in the UK.

New legislation now officially recognises digital assets as property. This addresses the previous lack of clarity about the status of digital assets, including cryptocurrency. This means you can now treat them like other types of asset in your Will.

Unclaimed assets could be mounting up

Posted on 9th December 2025

Assets following the sale of a family farm could have been lost.

Executors recently discovered lost assets of £629,000, held in multiple bank accounts following the sale of a family farm.

A daughter was in care and had a life interest in her mother’s estate. A law firm was acting as her deputy, looking after her interests. Sadly, she died before her mother. When her mother also died, there were two estates to deal with. There was very little information available about these separate but related estates.

Millionaires make donations to charity in their Wills

Posted on 6th October 2025

Millionaires can leave items of value like fast cars to charity in their Will.

Generally, the UK’s high net worth individuals (HNWIs) have investable assets of over £1million or annual income of over £300,000.

These are the people we would once have called ‘millionaires’, which certainly excludes most of us. However, it’s estimated there are over 3million in the UK.

Can we transfer our home to our children to reduce IHT?

Posted on 15th August 2025

As house prices increase but Inheritance Tax (IHT) thresholds remain frozen, families want to reduce their tax liabilities.

YOu can leave your fmaily home to your direct decendants and receive additional releif from Inheritance Tax.

Will the Autumn Budget increase tax on your inheritance?

Posted on 30th July 2025

Captial Gains Tax and other changes in the Autumn 2025 budget could affect your inheritance.

We expect the Autumn Budget in late October or early November. It might introduce tax changes that will affect your inheritance when a loved one dies.

Later life finances and Inheritance Tax

Posted on 16th June 2025

Once you reach your 50s, you’ll probably discover raising a mortgage becomes more difficult. One alternative might be to release equity from your home, but other options are available.

Borrowing money against your family home is just one option for your later life.

Gifts from surplus income

Posted on 28th May 2025

If you have some spare cash each month you can give regular gifts to loved ones to help reduce you IHT liability.

Very few people take advantage of inheritance tax rules that allow you to make gifts from your surplus income. That’s according to recent results of a Freedom of Information (FOI) request.

This information shows that only 1,500 estates, about 2%, made gifts using this rule in the last three years. However, following government pension reforms, this could change.

Pension pots and Inheritance Tax – changes in 2027

Posted on 13th February 2025

At 40%, Inheritance Tax or IHT can have a significant impact for the beneficiaries of your estate when you die. By 2032/33 one in eight estates may pay IHT when a surviving spouse or civil partner dies.

Your pension piggy bank might be broken due to inheritance tax changes.

Posts tagged “inheritance tax”

HMRC increases IHT investigations

Government changes its mind about IHT thresholds

Digital assets now recognised as personal property

Unclaimed assets could be mounting up

Millionaires make donations to charity in their Wills

Can we transfer our home to our children to reduce IHT?

Will the Autumn Budget increase tax on your inheritance?

Later life finances and Inheritance Tax

Gifts from surplus income

Pension pots and Inheritance Tax – changes in 2027

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