Are You Affected by Inheritance Tax?
The Inheritance Tax (IHT) collected by HMRC for the year June 2016 to May 2017 saw an increase of 9% on the previous year, rising to over £5 billion for the first time.
According to law firm Wilsons, this is attributed to rising property values and the freezing of the basic Inheritance Tax allowance, which has remained at £325,000 since the 2009/10 tax year.
It will be interesting to see how the new family home allowance (officially known as the main residence nil rate band) impacts on these figures. This relief was introduced in April 2017 and, according to HMRC, is intended to ‘reduce the burden of IHT for families by making it easier to pass on the family home to direct descendants for all but the largest estates.’
As well as this, there are other allowances which can reduce an individual’s exposure to inheritance tax and now, more than ever, it is important to assess how best to align your IHT position with your expectations for the future.
Green & Co have an Inheritance Tax and Care Home Review service that we run in conjunction with a local solicitors. If you’d like to discuss this service or any related matters please contact Green & Co.
Please note: This article is a commentary on general principles and should not be interpreted as advice for your specific situation.
