[New] Is inheritance tax the most contentious tax?

It brought in over £6bn for the government in the last tax year and our research shows it’s as unpopular as ever. Mark Collins, Head of Tax at Handelsbanken Wealth and Asset Management looks at why it’s going to catch out more of us.

Inheritance tax (IHT) is a highly emotive topic. With the IHT threshold (the point at which estates become liable for IHT) frozen until 2028, and inflation rising, an increasing number of estates will be required to pay IHT in the coming years. Little surprise, then, that more than half (52%) of UK adults would like to see IHT scrapped, or at least reduced, according to our research1

As part of the recent Autumn Statement, the UK government made the decision to maintain the IHT ‘nil rate’ band threshold at £325,000 until 2028. To reiterate, this is the point at which estates become large enough to be deemed liable to pay IHT (currently payable at a rate of 40% of the estate’s value). Meanwhile, asset prices (including property prices) have been rising: as more estates rise in value, more will move beyond the threshold for IHT, further increasing government income from this unique tax avenue.

Indeed, HMRC figures show that income from IHT for the 2021/22 tax year reached a record £6.1bn. This marked a 14% (£729m) increase on the previous tax year – the largest single-year increase since 2015/16.

What did our survey tell us about views on IHT?

Our survey covered 2,000 adults around the country, and revealed strong feelings about IHT, as you can see below. While there was plenty of common ground, we also saw divergence by age and gender groups, and by location around the country.

Will IHT ever be scrapped?

It’s clear that cutting or dropping IHT would be a popular move, but it’s probably safe to rule out the scrapping/reduction of IHT in the short term, given the current debate about government spending and tax cuts.

IHT income for the government is at an all-time high (both in terms of the total amount received, and as a percentage of GDP), underlining its importance to government funding. Indeed, forecasts indicate that the government’s income from IHT will rise to more than £6.7bn in the current tax year (2022/2023) – a potentially critical resource as the government looks to reduce its spending and make back some of the funding paid out over the COVID-19 era.

How should I manage my exposure to IHT liabilities?

Like much of the tax system, IHT rules are not especially straightforward. Besides the £325,000 nil rate band, anyone leaving their property to direct descendants is entitled to an extra £175,000 ‘residential nil rate band’, assuming their estate does not exceed £2m. This enables an estate to reach £500,000 before becoming liable for IHT. Further, if one partner dies and leaves their estate to their spouse or civil partner, their partner will not pay IHT on this inheritance. Indeed, they will then be able to add the unused percentage of their allowance to their partner’s, enabling them to pass on up to a combined £1m before IHT kicks in.

We believe that the nuanced detail around IHT legislation only serves to further highlight the importance of seeking good financial advice. As ever, we recommend regularly reviewing your affairs to ensure that you are managing your wealth in the most tax-efficient way possible, and keeping your long-term needs at the forefront of your plan.

More than a quarter of men (27%) think it should be kept the same, compared to just 17% of women

Those aged 50-64 were the most likely to believe it should be scrapped completely

Those aged 18-35 were the most likely to believe it should be kept the same

Mark Collins, Head of Tax Handelsbanken Wealth and Asset Management

Handelsbanken Hertford

Ground Floor, Sherwood House, 5 Bluecoats Avenue, Hertford, SG14 1PB

T. 01992 538916

W. handelsbanken.co.uk/hertford 1. Study conducted by independent research company Opinion among a nationally and politically representative sample of 2,000 UK adults aged 18-plus between 21-23 September 2022 using an online methodology