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Inheritance Tax Planning

Reduce the inheritance tax (IHT) your estate will pay with regulated advice on gifting, trusts, life cover, business relief, and pension structuring.

Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged at 40% on the value of an estate above the available nil-rate bands. With property values, pension wealth, and investment portfolios all rising, IHT now affects far more UK families than the "wealthy" label suggests. Good IHT planning starts years before it is needed and combines several techniques.

A specialist UK inheritance tax planner helps you map your estate, identify the available reliefs (nil-rate band, residence nil-rate band, spousal exemption, business relief, agricultural relief), and design a strategy that uses gifting, trusts, life assurance written in trust, and pension structuring to legally reduce the eventual liability.

Pensions sit largely outside the estate for IHT purposes today, but recent UK Budget announcements have signalled changes to this treatment from April 2027. An advisor will help you stress-test your plan against the new rules and decide which reliefs to lock in now.

Every IHT planner on Trusted Advisor is FCA-verified, every review is from a real client, and every first call is free. Use the directory below to compare specialists.

Related tools and guides

  • Inheritance tax calculatorEstimate your estate's IHT liability.
  • Pensions-in-estate calculatorModel the 2027 pension IHT changes.
  • Complete UK inheritance guideFull guide to UK estate and IHT planning.
  • Find an advisor by regionBrowse FCA-verified advisors near you.

Specialist inheritance tax planning advisors

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Frequently asked questions

How much can I leave before inheritance tax is due?

In 2025/26, every individual has a £325,000 nil-rate band. If you leave your main residence to direct descendants you may also use the £175,000 residence nil-rate band, giving up to £500,000 per person — or £1 million for a married couple or civil partners combining their allowances.

Are gifts subject to inheritance tax?

Gifts to individuals are usually "potentially exempt transfers" — they fall out of your estate after seven years. There are also annual gifting allowances and exemptions for gifts out of normal income that an advisor can help you use.

Will pensions still be IHT-free after 2027?

The UK government has announced that most unused pension funds will be brought within the scope of inheritance tax from 6 April 2027. An IHT planner can help you model the impact on your specific estate and adjust your withdrawal strategy.

Do I need a will and an IHT plan?

Yes — they work together. A will controls who inherits; an IHT plan controls how much HMRC takes from what they inherit. Both should be reviewed every few years and after any major life event.