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Protect your estate. Preserve your legacy.
HMRC collected a record £8.5 billion in Inheritance Tax in 2025/26 — the fifth consecutive record year.
With the £325,000 Nil-Rate Band frozen since 2009, more families than ever face a 40% tax on their estate. Book a free, no-obligation consultation with a specialist IHT planning adviser.
£8.5bn
IHT paid 2025/26
40%
Tax above allowances
£1m
Couple's maximum allowance
Watch · IHT planning in 2026
See how planning could protect your estate
A short guide to how Inheritance Tax works and the steps you can take now to leave more to your family.
Understanding IHT
What is Inheritance Tax Planning?
Inheritance Tax planning can significantly reduce the tax your loved ones pay on your estate after you have passed on — so more of what you have built goes to your family.
The allowances are frozen until at least 2030 while property and investment values keep rising. A specialist adviser can help you use every allowance available to you.
40%
Tax on the estate above allowances
£325k
Nil-Rate Band per person, frozen since 2009
£175k
Residence Nil-Rate Band, tapered above £2m
7 yrs
For gifts to fall fully outside the estate
Our approach
A considered path to protecting your estate
Estate review
A confidential conversation about your property, savings, investments, pensions and family wishes.
Allowance check
Make full use of the £325,000 Nil-Rate Band, the £175,000 Residence Nil-Rate Band and any allowance transferable from a spouse — up to £1m for a couple.
Bespoke strategy
Options such as the £3,000 annual gifting exemption, regular gifts from surplus income, gifts under the 7-year rule, and trusts.
Ongoing review
Your plan is revisited as your circumstances, your estate and the rules change over time.
FAQs
The questions we get asked most
What is Inheritance Tax?
Inheritance Tax is a tax on the estate of someone who has died, including property, money and possessions. The standard rate is 40% on the value above your available allowances.
What is the 7-year gifting rule?
Gifts to individuals are usually free of IHT if you live for 7 years after making them. If you die within 7 years, taper relief can reduce the tax on gifts made between 3 and 7 years before death.
Can I pass my allowances to my spouse?
Yes. Any unused Nil-Rate Band and Residence Nil-Rate Band can transfer to a surviving spouse or civil partner, potentially allowing up to £1 million to pass free of IHT.
How can trusts help?
Assets placed in a suitable trust may fall outside your estate for IHT purposes, while letting you control how and when beneficiaries receive them. Different trusts are taxed differently, so specialist advice matters.
What happens in the free consultation?
A specialist adviser will talk through your estate, family wishes and current allowances, then outline the options available to you. There's no cost and no obligation to proceed.
Protecting assets
Trusts and Inheritance
A trust is similar to a Will, but is a legal arrangement covering specific assets such as money, investments, land or buildings. Many kinds of trust exist, each suiting different needs. When you place money or property in a trust, it may no longer count as part of your estate for Inheritance Tax — though different trusts are taxed differently.
The settlor
The person who creates the trust and places assets into it.
The trustee
The person or people in charge of managing the trust.
The beneficiary
The person or people who benefit from the trust.
Protect more of your estate for your family
Speak to a specialist IHT planning adviser — free and with no obligation.