I understand that there are two different types of Inheritance Tax exemptions that my family can claim when I die. Can you explain what exemptions are available and if there are any conditions on them, please?

Lowestoft Journal: Richard Barker, chartered financial planner with Smith & PinchingRichard Barker, chartered financial planner with Smith & Pinching (Image: Smith & Pinching)

Richard Barker of Smith & Pinching responds:

Planning to mitigate Inheritance Tax (IHT) is something that we discuss with clients on a regular basis and it is important to understand how the exemptions are applied to an estate. I’ll attempt to cover the basics here, but do get advice if you think your estate is likely to have a future IHT liability, as there are several different measures you can adopt to manage it.

Importantly, anything left to a spouse or civil partner (but not a co-habiting partner) is free of IHT on your death. The next major exemption is the Nil Rate Band (NRB). This is the basic amount that can be left to your heirs without incurring IHT. The NRB currently stands at £325,000 per person. It’s worth stressing that if you own assets jointly with someone else, it’s only your share that will be counted when you die. Any unused NRB can be passed on to your spouse or civil partner when you die, giving the second partner to die a combined NRB of £650,000.

In addition to the NRB, there is an additional exemption that can be applied if you leave the value of your home to your children or grandchildren (including stepchildren and adopted or fostered children). This will vary according to the value of your share of the home involved but currently provides an exemption of up to £175,000 per person. This is known as the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) and can also be passed on to a surviving spouse or civil partner, if unused.

However, estates worth more than £2 million are subject to a tapering reduction to the RNRB. In practice, this means that a couple leaving the bulk of their estate to their children could benefit from an IHT exemption of up to £1 million. However, single persons, couples without children and those with large estates will have a lower combined NRB/RNRB.

Any pension benefits you leave to your heirs are normally treated as outside your estate, if you have written the benefits in trust. This is another area where advice can be critical. There are other exemptions available at the time of death such as allowances for gifts to charities. In addition, lifetime giving exemptions allow you to reduce the value of your estate for IHT purposes during your lifetime.

IHT planning is an important part of the advice we give to our clients to build a full picture of how assets will be treated upon death and how to manage future tax liabilities.

Any opinions expressed in this article do not constitute advice.

For more information, please visit www.smith-pinching.co.uk