Beyond Compliance
Inheritance Tax Advisers
Protecting what’s rightfully yours.
The threshold for inheritance tax (IHT) currently stands at £325,000. If the value of your estate exceeds that amount, the difference can be subject to a 40% tax rate. For example, if your estate is worth £800,000, then IHT will be due on £475,000 (£800,000 - £325,000).
The rules around IHT are complex, and there are many ways to offset any costs above the threshold. But, when managed incorrectly, inheritance tax can greatly reduce the value of a family's property, possessions and estate.
So if you want to ensure as much money as possible goes to your loved ones, you'll need to discuss and plan for your future with our specialist inheritance tax advisers.
Services
How can we help?
Inheritance tax planning
Our team can help you fully understand your inheritance tax implications and commitments. We'll value your estate and then plan the most tax-efficient way to pass on your wealth.
Inheritance tax relief
The nil rate band for inheritance tax in the UK is currently £325,000. Anything above the threshold is taxable at 40%, but there are reliefs and exemptions available. Our inheritance tax accountants will review your situation and advise on your eligibility.
Wills
It's never a good idea to leave the distribution of your estate to chance. We're here to guide you through the will-making process and ensure all your wishes are met.
Trusts
We can help set up and manage trusts for family members. Trusts can help pass on wealth efficiently and mitigate your inheritance tax liability.
Gifts
Whether given outright or as part of a trust, gifting is an important consideration for any wealth management strategy. We'll help protect your estate by making the most of gifts.
Probate and estate adminstration
After you pass, we'll help with the administration your estate. We can apply for a Grant of Probate, act as an executor, distribute assets as per your wishes, and pay inheritance tax in full.
Get in touch
With careful planning, you can ensure your loved ones will never have to consider selling your family home, heirlooms or investments to cover the cost of inheritance tax.
Our team, led by Partner, Amal Shah, has decades of experience in tax planning. We'll make sure you benefit from all available tax-free allowances and deductions.
We’d be happy to arrange a free consultation. Simply fill in the enquiry form or call us on the number below to speak to an inheritance tax specialist.
Call us
+44 (0)20 7299 1400Get in touch
Submit
About
Why Gerald Edelman?
Since 1946, we have advised thousands of individuals, families, executors and administrators. If you're looking to retain the maximum possible value from your estate, we can help.
Our main responsibility is to assist with all aspects of inheritance tax planning and ensure you benefit from every relief for which you are eligible.
However, as a business, we aim to provide support beyond accountancy. We act as trusted, long-term advisers – learning everything we can about you to deliver more value.
This could mean supporting your business, structuring a property portfolio, setting up a Family Office, advising on investments, or broader financial planning.
Get in touch via the contact form above to discuss your situation with an inheritance tax adviser today.
Frequently asked questions
Could we use a Family Investment Company (FIC) as part of our inheritance tax strategy?
A Family Investment Company (FIC) is a bespoke family investment vehicle. As the name suggests, it’s a company whose directors and shareholders are usually individual family members.
An FIC can hold a wide variety of assets, including property and shares. It allows a family to determine how each member can benefit by defining the rights attached to each class of shares. If the company is correctly structured, it allows the principal to retain control of the company by way of holding voting rights. However, it allows the beneficiaries, usually the settlor’s children, to hold income and capital growth shares. The effect is to remove the capital growth value of the company from the principal’s estate and pass this on to the beneficiaries, in turn reducing the total inheritance tax bill that should be payable on death.
What are Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETS)?
Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETs) are gifts made during a person’s lifetime that are not immediately subject to Inheritance Tax. However, it may be taxed should the donor pass away within seven years from the date of the gift.
The effective rates of tax on the excess over the nil rate band are:
- 0 to 3 years before death: 40%
- 3 to 4 years before death: 32%
- 4 to 5 years before death: 24%
- 5 to 6 years before death: 16%
- 6 to 7 years before death: 8%
What is a Trust?
Trusts are a way of managing assets. They’re an important financial planning tool to protect family wealth and succession.
There are three main roles: the settlor, the trustee, and the beneficiary. The settlor is the person(s) who sets up the trust and adds assets. The trustee(s) look after the trust and the assets within it on behalf of the beneficiary. The beneficiary, as you might expect, benefits from the trust, such as receiving an income.
Why draw up a will?
It is important to make a will because:
- If you die without a will, the law dictates what happens to your money, property and possessions. This may not be how you would have wished your money and possessions to be distributed.
- Unmarried partners and partners who have not registered a civil partnership cannot inherit from each other unless there is a will, so the death of one partner may create serious financial problems for the remaining partner.
- If you have children, you will need to make a will so that arrangements for the children can be made if either one or both parents die.
- It may be possible to reduce an estate’s tax bill if inheritance tax advice is taken in advance and a will is made.
- If your circumstances change, you must make a will to ensure that your money and possessions are distributed according to your wishes. For example, if you have separated and your ex-partner lives with someone else, you may want to change your will. If you are married or enter into a registered civil partnership, this will make any previous will you have made invalid.
Insights
Here we share topical news, updates, and inspirational blogs.
Related services
Estate Planning
Family Office
Probate
Self-Assessment Tax Advisers
Wealth Management Services