It’s common for individuals to transfer valuable assets to another individual, such as family or trusts, but how these assets are financed can make a difference to how they are treated in terms of inheritance tax. Inheritance tax is essentially the tax payable of the decreased individual on estates which include property or possessions, and this blog details the different elements that need to be taken into consideration.
When does inheritance tax arise?
The rationale behind inheritance tax is attributed to transactions classified as:
Lifetime Transfers – a gift to another individual or transfer to a trust.
Death Estate – gifts transferred according to the will of death.
Who has to pay inheritance tax?
Inheritance tax is typically paid by the executor if the transfer is passed on through a will. The recipient of the transfer is paid after any inheritance tax liability has been accounted for. Although the recipient may not pay tax on what they inherit, a tax obligation still exists on associated assets such as rental income they gain as the result of the transfer. If there is no executor appointed by the decreased individual in the will then the inheritance tax is charged by the administrator of the estate.
What rate is inheritance tax charged at?
Inheritance tax is charged on the property and assets of a deceased individual based on flat rate of 40% excess than the nil band rate which for 2021 is above the threshold of £325,000. The threshold of £325,000 changes to £500,000 if the transfer is made to family relatives such as children. Even if the inheritance tax sums up to below £325,000 it still needs to be disclosed to HMRC.
Chargeable lifetime transfer is a gift made by the individual to the trust making it immediately taxable, and the amount of tax that results depends on whether the lifetime tax is paid by the donor or the trust. If the tax is paid by the donor, 25% is charged, and 20% is charged if tax is paid by the trust.
When does inheritance tax have to be paid?
Inheritance tax provision is to be paid by the end of a sixth month period after the individual’s death; if the tax is not settled within this period then HMRC will charge interest.
Transfer value
Transfer value in inheritance tax terminology is simply the amount of the chargeable estate and possessions which can sometimes be at market price.
The value of the transfer is measured on the assets diminution value which is the loss to the donor’s estate and not the amount gained by the done. This transfer is sometimes referred to as disposition which indicates that the value of the estate is lower than it was before the disposition occurred.
Another factor that reduces the valuation of the estate is when the donor pays inheritance tax in relation to the transfer, making the overall value of the transfer equal to disposition and relevant inheritance tax.
Inheritance tax planning
Below considers factors that should be taken into consideration to minimise inheritance tax liability in the event of an individuals death.
Small gift – the exemption is up to £250 per donee but it cannot be extended to larger gifts or gifts to trusts. Another exception is a gift in consideration of marriage in which the first £5000 from parent is exempt, first £2500 by a lineal ancestor, and £1000 by another person. For normal expenditure such as regular payments, the annual exemption is the first £3000 and the unused can be carried forward for one year after it expires.
Pensions – classified as the most tax efficient way to pass on wealth because, if the donor dies before the age of 75, the assets are passed on to the donee who does not have to pay any tax, and if the donor dies after the age of 75 then for the donee any future withdrawals will be charged based on their marginal income tax rate.
Specialist investments – some investments can be subject to business relief, enabling them to be exempt from inheritance tax after being held for more than two years.
The seven year inheritance tax tapper relief rule
The seven-year rule is applicable when the transferor lives for at least seven years, ultimately making the inheritance tax free. Over the span of seven years, the amount of inheritance tax is reduced, and this is referred to as tapper relief. The amount of tax paid on gifts vary according to the time period they are given:
– 0-3 years tax payable of 40%
– 3-4 years tax payable of 32%
– 4-5 years tax payable of 24%
– 5-6 years tax payable of 16%
– 6-7 years tax payable of 8%
– 7 years and more tax payable of 0%
Are there any exempt transfers?
Potentially exempt transfers are any gifts which are exempt and transferred between individuals or if the transferor services occur after seven years, making it again exempt. These include:
– Gifts to UK charities
– Gifts for national purposes
– Gifts between spouses, or partners in civil partnership
– Payments for family maintenance
– Assets below the threshold of £325,000
Relating to tax planning, if a chargeable lifetime transfer and potentially exempt transfers are made in the same year then chargeable lifetime transfers are charged first regarding tax. Also, annual exemptions are first applied to whichever gift or transfer has been made first and if the transferor survives for seven years then the potentially exempt transfer will not become chargeable, meaning the annual exemption will therefore be wasted.
Changes in 2021 that affect inheritance tax
Main Residence Allowance – in 2020/2021 this has risen by £175,000 which for some Individuals means that no tax is charged on the first £500,000 but this rule is only applicable if the estate is worth less than £2.4 million.
Basic Nil Band Rate – currently that basic nil band rate is fixed to £325,000 until April 2021.
Inheritance tax is charged on the property and assets of a deceased individual based on a flat rate of 40% excess than the nil band rate which for 2021 is above the threshold of £325,000. The threshold of £325,000 changes to £500,000 if the transfer is made to family relatives such as children. Even if the inheritance tax sums up to below £325,000, it still needs to be disclosed to HMRC.
A chargeable lifetime transfer is a gift made by the individual to a trust, making it immediately taxable, and the amount of tax that results depends on whether the lifetime tax is paid by the donor or the trust. If the tax is paid by the donor, 25% is charged and 20% is charged if tax is paid by the trust.
Overall, Inheritance Tax entails complicity but this blog is a form of understanding the principles behind inheritance tax to form the basis of planning with the aim to reduce the tax liability for the beneficiaries. For further assistance or enquires, call us on +44 (0)1213681277 or alternatively email info@taxcare.org.uk.