Inheritance tax was once only a worry for the rich and famous. But this is no longer the case, as rising asset values and static thresholds catch more and more families.
An ‘estate’ is defined as the property, money and possessions that are left for beneficiaries. The assets which form part of an estate include:
- Cash in the bank
- Investments
- Jewellery, art, antiques and home furnishings
- Any property or business
- Vehicles
- Payouts from life insurance policies
Inheritance tax is only payable if the value of the estate exceeds £325,000, and this is known as the Nil Rate Band (NRB). If someone is married or in a civil partnership, then they have a joint Nil Rate Band of £650,000.
The Nil Rate Band can also be extended through use of the Residence Nil Rate Band (RNRB) which was introduced in 2017. This enables a further £175,000 of relief to be available if the qualifying conditions are met. After the FY 21/22 tax year, the RNRB threshold will go up in line with inflation based on the Consumer Price Index.
Unless other reliefs or exemptions apply, 40% inheritance tax is payable on estates which are valued over the relevant threshold.
Download our guide to Inheritance TaxInheritance Tax Facts
Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts reached record levels in FY 2017/2018 at over £5 billion – and are forecast to hit £10 billion by 2030
An increasing number of families are becoming liable for IHT due to rising house prices
IHT is a ‘voluntary tax’ which can be mitigated with sound financial planning
It’s easy for investors to make costly mistakes, so IHT planning requires specialist advice
Stellar Asset Management has the expertise to work with investors and their advisers, to determine the best approach to mitigating inheritance tax
Worked Example
On an estate which is worth £500,000, inheritance tax would usually be charged on £175,000 – which is the total estate value minus the standard Nil Rate Band of £325,000. So the calculation would be £175,000 x 40% = £70,000 to pay in inheritance tax. This means that only £430,000 would be inherited. However, if the £175,000 has been invested with Stellar Asset Management for the previous two years or more, it would quality for Business Relief – and no inheritance tax would be payable.
Read more about our range of Inheritance Tax Services
Stellar AiM IHT Service
A discretionary managed portfolio that mitigates risk through a diversified selection of 40 AiM stocks. This service is available for advised clients, on many of the UK’s largest wrap platforms.
Stellar AiM ISA IHT Service
The Stellar AiM IHT Service is also available for investment via an ISA, which enables investors to benefit from both Business Relief qualification and all ISA tax benefits. This service is also available on various wrap platforms.
Stellar Business IHT Service
A discretionary managed service which provides numerous succession planning and tax efficiency options for business owners – either following the sale of a company, or to invest excess company capital to maintain tax efficiency.
Stellar Growth IHT Service
This discretionary managed service involves the creation of a privately owned limited company for each investor, to access a portfolio of asset-backed Investment Sectors – targeting 5% growth per annum.
Stellar ITS
A discretionary managed service designed for investors who wish to leave a legacy that is free from inheritance tax.