A Summary of Lesser Known IHT Reliefs, Exemptions and Allowances

For those with significant assets, there are a number of IHT reliefs to help friends and family whilst they are still alive.

However for some people, especially those with significant assets, there are tax efficient ways (regarding things such as IHT) to help friends and family whilst they are still alive.

Potentially Exempt Transfers

One way to do this is by making lifetime transfers known as Potentially Exempt Transfers. These gifts or transfers achieve their potential of becoming exempt from IHT if the taxpayer survives for more than seven years after making the gift. If the taxpayer dies within three years of making the gift, then the IHT position is as if the gift was made on death.There is tapered relief if the death occurs between three and seven years after the gift is made.

One less commonly used exemption is especially relevant for wealthy taxpayers. Gifts which are made from surplus income, which do not result in a fall of the standard of living of the donor, are exempt from IHT. There is no published limit to this relief; the amount that can be given is only restricted by a taxpayer’s surplus income.

Rules On Gifts

This includes monthly or other regular payments to someone, regular gifts for Christmas and birthdays, or wedding/civil partnership anniversaries, regular premiums on a life insurance policy - for you or someone else. Other exempt lifetime gifts:

• annual gifts out of capital £3,000
• small gifts (per recipient) £250
• parental gift on marriage £5,000
• grandparent or party to marriage £2,500
• other gifts on marriage (per donor) £1,000

Donations

Any gifts made to a UK charity during a donor’s lifetime or in his Will are exempt from IHT. Political donations to any UK political party that has at least two members elected to the House of Commons or has one elected member but the party received at least 150,000 votes are also eligible for relief. It is also possible to make donations to certain national institutions such as museums, universities and the National Trust and benefit from relief.

Business Relief

Business relief (50% or 100%) can be claimed on qualifying property and buildings. This also includes assets such as unlisted shares or machinery.

Agricultural Property

You can claim agricultural property relief (50% or 100%) on farming land, working farmhouses, farm workers’ cottages and barns. There is no agricultural relief for farm equipment but the equipment may qualify for business relief.

Woodland Timber

There are special reliefs for woodland timber. They exempted from an estate allow the value of timber (but not the land on which it sits).

National Heritage

There are special rules for national heritage property and famous and important works of art. Gifts to an unmarried partner, or partner that is not in a registered civil partnership, are not exempt from IHT.