Inheritance Tax Planning

Service Details

The conversation around inheritance tax in the UK is one that few people want to have, but the cost of avoiding it can be enormous. With thresholds frozen, property values rising, and political uncertainty surrounding the future of tax policy, inheritance tax (IHT) has become one of the most pressing and unpredictable issues facing families today.

At Landmark IFA, we help you face that uncertainty with calm, considered planning. Our role is to make sure that what you have worked for, your home, your savings, your investments, and your legacy, reaches the people and causes you care about, not the taxman.

The Growing Weight of Inheritance Tax

Once considered a tax for the wealthy few, inheritance tax is now affecting a far broader range of families across the UK.

  • The Office for Budget Responsibility reported that IHT receipts hit £7.5 billion in 2023–24, a record high and almost double the amount collected a decade earlier.
  • The nil-rate band (the tax-free threshold) has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009, and is due to remain so until at least 2028, despite significant increases in average property prices.
  • According to HMRC data, the number of estates paying inheritance tax has increased by more than 20% in the past five years, largely due to the property market’s relentless growth.

 

These figures underline a clear reality: even modest estates are being pulled into the IHT net. What was once a concern only for the wealthy has quietly become a widespread issue for middle-income families and homeowners alike.

And with a general election on the horizon and ongoing debates about potential reforms, the future of inheritance tax remains unpredictable. Whether thresholds are raised, replaced, or made more complex, those who plan early and flexibly will be best placed to protect their assets—whatever changes come next.

Understanding Inheritance Tax

Inheritance tax is typically charged at 40% on the portion of an estate that exceeds the available allowances.

Key components include:

  • Nil-Rate Band (NRB): £325,000 per individual. Unused allowances can be transferred between spouses or civil partners.
  • Residence Nil-Rate Band (RNRB): Up to £175,000 when a main residence is passed to direct descendants.
  • Exemptions and reliefs: Gifts to spouses, charities, and certain business or agricultural assets may qualify for full or partial exemption.

 

The mechanics sound simple, but the real challenge lies in the detail, understanding how to combine allowances, time gifts correctly, and structure your estate so that your wealth passes efficiently and according to your wishes.

That’s where Landmark IFA’s expertise proves invaluable.

Landmark IFA’s Approach to Inheritance Tax Planning

We believe inheritance tax planning should be an act of care, not just a calculation. It’s about ensuring your wealth supports the next generation without creating conflict, confusion, or unnecessary cost.

Our process is grounded in three principles: understanding, strategy, and adaptability.

1. Understanding Your Estate

We begin with a comprehensive review of your assets, property, pensions, investments, business holdings, and life assurance. We clarify ownership structures and establish an accurate picture of your potential IHT exposure. Many people underestimate the size of their estate, particularly when property and life policies are included, so this stage often reveals opportunities for immediate improvement.

2. Strategy and Structure

Once we understand your position, we build a strategy that balances control, access, and efficiency. This may include:

  • Using allowances and exemptions such as annual gifting, wedding gifts, and the seven-year rule for potentially exempt transfers.

  • Trust planning to move assets outside of your estate while maintaining influence over how and when beneficiaries receive them.

  • Life assurance policies written in trust to provide liquidity for inheritance tax liabilities, preventing the need for forced asset sales.

  • Charitable gifting to reduce the overall tax rate on your estate.

  • Business property relief (BPR) and agricultural relief for qualifying assets, often vital for family business owners or landholders.

Every recommendation is explained clearly, with attention to both the financial and emotional dimensions of wealth transfer.

3. Adaptability for an Uncertain Future

No one can predict how future governments will reshape inheritance tax, but what we can do is design plans that evolve with those changes.

At Landmark IFA, we monitor every budget announcement and legislative update, adapting client strategies when needed. Whether thresholds are adjusted, exemptions reduced, or new reliefs introduced, your plan will remain resilient.

Our goal is to future-proof your estate, not through guesswork, but through structure, flexibility, and foresight.

Begin the Conversation

Your legacy deserves more than guesswork. Let Landmark IFA help you make confident, informed decisions about inheritance tax, so your wealth remains a source of opportunity, not anxiety.

Book a confidential consultation with our estate planning specialists and take the first step towards securing your family’s financial future.

Because the future may be uncertain, but your legacy doesn’t have to be. Choose foresight. Choose independence. Choose Landmark IFA.

Planning Early Makes All the Difference

Inheritance tax planning is most powerful when it begins early. Every year you wait reduces the tools available to you—particularly when it comes to lifetime gifts and trusts.

A well-timed plan can:

  • Save tens or even hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax.
  • Prevent your loved ones from facing complex legal or administrative burdens.
  • Preserve family harmony by ensuring fairness and transparency.
  • Allow you to see the impact of your generosity during your lifetime.

Even small actions now, such as restructuring ownership, using annual allowances, or setting up a trust, can significantly alter your estate’s long-term outcome.

Why Choose Landmark IFA

Inheritance tax is one of the most misunderstood areas of personal finance. Rules are intricate, exemptions are often overlooked, and small mistakes can have major consequences. Landmark IFA brings clarity and reassurance to an area that too often feels intimidating.

Independent Expertise

We are not tied to any provider or product, allowing us to recommend solutions that fit your circumstances—not a corporate agenda.

Specialist Knowledge

Our advisers have deep experience in complex estate planning, working alongside solicitors and accountants to create coherent, legally robust strategies.

Holistic Perspective

Inheritance tax planning is part of a wider financial picture. We ensure it integrates with your pension, investments, and retirement income to deliver complete financial harmony.

Transparent and Human Approach

We translate complexity into understanding. You’ll always know why a recommendation is made, what it costs, and how it benefits your family in the long term.

Future-Focused Partnership

As laws change, we stay with you. Our ongoing review service ensures your estate plan remains aligned with current regulations and your evolving life goals.

The Reality: Uncertainty Is Here to Stay

The future of inheritance tax will likely continue to shift with the political winds. Some parties have proposed abolishing it, others plan to expand its reach. In truth, no one knows what the next decade holds.

But uncertainty is not an excuse for inaction; it is the reason to act.

By planning today, you protect yourself against tomorrow’s surprises. You gain flexibility, preserve choice, and give your family clarity when it matters most.

Whats the difference between independent financial advisers (IFAs) and non-independent (or restricted) advisers?

Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs) can recommend products from across the entire market, offering impartial advice based solely on a client’s best interests. Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), they must consider all suitable options before making recommendations. Restricted advisers, however, can only offer advice from specific providers or product types and must clearly disclose these limitations.

While still FCA-approved, their recommendations may be influenced by the firms or products they represent. In short, IFAs provide unbiased, whole-of-market advice, while restricted advisers operate within narrower boundaries that can limit the range of financial solutions available to clients.

If you’re dealing with an Independent Financial Adviser (IFA), then yes — you’ll typically have an independent account owner or adviser who works solely in your interest, offering access to products from the entire market. Their independence means they are not tied to any single provider, so their recommendations and account management should remain impartial.

If, however, you’re with a restricted or tied advisory firm, your account will usually be managed by a restricted adviser, meaning they operate within a limited range of products or providers.

Would you like to tell me which company or platform you’re considering? I can confirm whether their advisers are independent or not.

What sets a financial firm apart is the depth of its expertise, the integrity of its advice, and the personal connection it builds with clients.

A truly distinguished firm goes beyond selling products, it takes time to understand each client’s ambitions, risk tolerance, and long-term goals. Transparency, independence, and a commitment to education create lasting trust, while forward-thinking technology and data-driven insights ensure efficiency and precision.

Exceptional firms combine professional rigour with genuine care, crafting bespoke financial strategies that evolve with clients’ lives. In essence, they succeed not by transactions, but by delivering confidence, clarity, and enduring financial growth.

Landmark IFA maximises your assets and returns through a combination of analysis, planning, and proactive management.

We begins by assessing your current financial position, goals, and risk tolerance, then build a tailored strategy designed to balance growth with protection. This often includes diversifying investments across asset classes, monitoring market trends, and rebalancing portfolios to capture opportunities while minimising exposure to risk.

The firm also considers tax efficiency, inflation, and long-term compounding to strengthen returns over time. This is also demonstrated through some of our other product offerings. 

We regularly review your plan, ensuring it evolves with changing markets and life events. Ultimately, it’s about precision, discipline, and informed decision-making to help your wealth grow sustainably.

Secure Your Financial Future Today

Our team of independent advisors is ready to help you protect, plan, and grow your wealth.

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