Achieving IHT, which stands for Inheritance Tax, generally involves understanding and potentially managing how much inheritance tax you or your beneficiaries might be liable for, given the assets passed on after death. If you’re referring to legally minimizing your inheritance tax liability, here are several strategies that may help:
Gifting: You can give away assets during your lifetime. There are allowances that let you gift money or assets without being counted towards your inheritance tax threshold. These include annual exemptions, small gifts allowances, and gifts on marriage.
Trusts: Setting up a trust can be a way to manage your assets and potentially reduce IHT. Trusts can let you place assets with trustees who manage them for beneficiaries, taking advantage of various tax efficiencies.
Life Insurance: Consider taking out a life insurance policy to cover the expected IHT liability. Ensure the policy is written in trust so it doesn’t form part of your estate and is not subject to IHT itself.
Estate Planning: Take advice from a qualified financial advisor or estate planner. They can help you develop a strategy specific to your assets, family situation, and the applicable laws in your jurisdiction.
Marriage/Civil Partnership: If you’re unmarried and have a significant estate, consider marriage or forming a civil partnership, as assets passed between spouses or civil partners are typically exempt from IHT.
Pension Schemes: Since most pensions can be passed on without being subject to IHT, it may be wise to leave your pension assets alone and use other savings for financial needs if you are aiming to maximize inheritance values.
Review and Update Your Will: Ensure your will is up to date and structured in a tax-efficient manner. Estates that don’t have a will are subject to intestacy rules, which may not be the most tax-efficient distribution approach.
Utilize Your Nil-Rate Band and Residence Nil-Rate Band: Make sure you’re making full use of the nil-rate band allowances, which can effectively increase the threshold before IHT is due. This includes making the most of transferable allowances between spouses or civil partners.
It’s important to seek professional advice tailored to your personal circumstances, as IHT rules can be complex and are subject to change based on laws and policy changes.