Inheritance Tax

Leaving a gift in your will can change the amount of inheritance tax paid. For an unmarried person in the UK, the basic inheritance tax threshold (‘nil rate band’) is currently £325,000. Generally speaking, any part of your estate left above this threshold is taxed at 40%. However, leaving a bequest to charity can help to reduce your inheritance tax bill as follows:

• legacies to charity are exempt from inheritance tax; and
• additionally, if you leave charitable bequests of at least 10% of the ‘chargeable’ part of your estate (i.e. the excess above £325,000), then the rate of inheritance tax applied to the rest of your estate will be reduced from 40% to 36%.

Your solicitor will be able to give you more information on this. More information regarding inheritance tax’ thresholds, rules, and allowances can be found on the Government’s website.