Rules for Inheritance Tax Baffle Older Generations

Inheritance Tax is often described as incomprehensible. Executors often complain to Probate lawyers that the deceased could have done more to save Inheritance Tax.  Of course, by that stage, it is too late to do anything about it.   One solution is to take full advantage of the rules on gifts, which is something older generations seem perhaps reluctant to do.

The 7 year condition

Anyone who can afford to give away sums of money should consider doing so.  Provided the benefactor lives 7 years after the gift is given the Assets gifted are not included in the estate so there is no inheritance tax liability.  The 7 year condition does not apply to the annual exemption. Anyone can give away £3,000 per year with a carry over for any allowance not used in the previous year, therefore allowing a couple to give away £6,000 every year.  It is also possible to give gifts of up to £5,000 for a wedding, smaller sums of £250 can be given to as many people as you want and gifts from surplus income are also considered to be outside an estate for inheritance tax purposes.

The confusing nature of tax rule

According to recent research however, the average amount people believe they can gift each year without incurring inheritance tax is £1,575.  This is almost half the allowance.  Interestingly, only one in 10 (12%) of survey respondents actually answered with the correct figure.  The confusing nature of tax rules appears to be stopping either generation from benefitting from significant pools of wealth built up over years. Nearly half of parents surveyed (44%) said they would give more money to their children if they were allowed to do so without tax implications, while more than one in three (35%) grandparents would do the same.  Two in 5 (40%) just don’t feel confident enough to make financial gifts. Perhaps the recent Government directed inheritance Tax review will make a difference, as the review will be carried out by the Office of Tax Simplification.

The current annual gifting allowance

It is worth mentioning that the current annual gifting allowance has remained at £3,000 since the early 1980s.  Industry professionals believe that if this was increased we would see more families pass wealth down through the generations. This will give younger people the financial leg up in life that they may need, particularly with soaring property prices and home ownership merely a dream for some.  The additional benefit of course would be to help older generations from an inheritance tax perspective.Contact us now to discuss the significant benefits of Inheritance Tax Planning for your family.