Introducing RentalBux: Our MTD Software for Landlords
Generic software doesn't understand property businesses and require manual intervention to meet deadlines. That's why we developed RentalBux!
Secure Your Legacy and Your Family’s Future
Inheritance Tax Planning
Without careful planning, property owners, landlords and investors can face large and unexpected tax bills. UK Property Accountants (UKPA) offers specialist IHT advice for those property owners who want to minimise tax and protect wealth.
What is Inheritance Tax?
Inheritance Tax (IHT) is a 40% charge on the part of your estate that exceeds the tax‑free allowance.
Every individual has a £325,000 nil‑rate band, and there is an extra £175,000 residence nil‑rate band when you leave your main home to direct descendants. These allowances can be transferred between spouses or civil partners so that a couple might pass on up to £1 million tax‑free.
Why You Need Professional Inheritance Tax Planning?
Contrary to popular belief, Inheritance Tax planning isn't just for the ultra-wealthy. It's for anyone who wants to ensure their family, business, or farm benefits from what they've worked so hard to create.
Early Inheritance Tax Planning helps you take advantage of exemptions and reliefs and avoid pitfalls. Taking action now protects your legacy and your loved ones
Business Property Relief, Agricultural Property Relief, transferable nil-rate bands, and residence allowances can shelter substantial wealth, often well beyond £1 million for married couples. But these reliefs require careful structuring to qualify.
Anti-avoidance rules are complex. Gifts where you retain a benefit (such as living in a property you've given away), poorly structured trusts, or missed deadlines can all result in unnecessary tax. Expert IHT advice protects you from these traps.
Two major reforms will substantially impact estate planning:
- From 6 April 2026: 100% relief on business and agricultural assets will be capped at £2.5 million, with only 50% relief available above this threshold.
- From 6 April 2027: Most pension wealth that can be passed on at death will be brought within the scope of Inheritance Tax for the first time.
Inheritance tax planning now ensures you're positioned to restructure assets, maximise available reliefs, and minimise the impact of these new restrictions.
A comprehensive estate plan removes ambiguity, reduces administrative burden, and ensures your wishes are carried out, giving your loved ones one less thing to worry about.
Common Issues While Planning for Inheritance Tax
No estate plan
Many families, property-owners, business-owners, landlords and investors underestimate the value of their portfolios and go over the IHT thresholds without realising it.
Ineffective gifts
Transferring an asset but still using it may trigger the gift with reservation rules or the pre‑owned assets tax.
Overlooking reliefs
Valuable reliefs such as Business Property Relief (BPR) and Agricultural Property Relief (APR) in Inheritance Tax planning can reduce IHT by up to 100%. Missing them means paying more tax than necessary.
Ignoring other taxes
Inheritance Tax planning interacts with Capital Gains Tax, Income Tax and Stamp Duty Land Tax. Isolated planning may create bigger problems.
Our Inheritance Tax Services at a Glance
We offer a full suite of services to cover every aspect of IHT planning.
Complete assessment of your estate's IHT position, calculating current and projected tax liabilities. We identify all available reliefs and develop a comprehensive strategy to minimise tax and preserve wealth for your beneficiaries.
We restructure your personal and family wealth to achieve long-term tax efficiency and seamless succession. Our approach integrates IHT planning with your broader financial goals.
Strategic modeling to maximise your £325,000 nil-rate band and £175,000 residence nil-rate band (£1 million for couples). We analyse taper thresholds to protect your allowances if your estate exceeds £2 million, and structure downsizing relief when you move to a smaller property or gift your home.
Detailed review of your eligibility for 100% or 50% relief on business and farming assets. We verify qualifying conditions, identify excepted assets that could disqualify relief, and restructure ownership to maximise relief ahead of April 2026 £2.5 million cap.
Comprehensive audit of past transfers, lifetime gifts, and trust arrangements to identify potential IHT liabilities. We calculate periodic charges (10-year anniversaries) and exit charges on discretionary trusts, ensuring full compliance and optimal tax positioning.
We identify problematic gifts where you've retained a benefit and advise on solutions.
Strategic scheduling of gifts to use your annual exemptions (£3,000), small gifts allowance, and normal expenditure out of income exemption. We structure potentially exempt transfers to start the seven-year clock and apply taper relief where the donor dies within seven years.
Preparing IHT400 and related schedules; monitoring values, deadlines and legislative changes.
Review to ensure your will, trust structures, and letters of wishes align with your IHT and RNRB planning objectives. We identify clauses that could trigger unexpected tax charges and recommend amendments to protect your intentions.
Post-death planning to optimise IHT outcomes within the two-year window. We assess whether beneficiaries should redirect inheritances, disclaim gifts, or vary the will to reduce the overall estate's tax burden while respecting family wishes.
Advising on the inclusion of pension pots in your estate from April 2027 and arranging nominations accordingly.
Supporting executors with valuations, reporting and aligning IHT, Capital Gains Tax and Income Tax.
Providing tailored education and briefings to help stakeholders understand their IHT exposure and options.
Not sure which service you need? Book a Free Discovery Call and we’ll recommend the right combination.
Why Choose UK Property Accountants for Inheritance Tax Planning UK?
Specialists in property and IHT
We combine in‑depth knowledge of property taxation with expertise in inheritance tax planning.
Bespoke advice
We tailor your inheritance tax plan to your assets, family situation and long‑term goals.
Transparent fees
You will know our fees up front and no hidden charges.
Integrated approach
If required, we will work closely with solicitors and financial advisers to ensure your wills, trusts, pensions and investments all align with IHT planning.
Proven results
Our strategies have saved clients significant tax and provided peace of mind during sensitive family transitions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Every person has a £325,000 nil‑rate band and an additional £175,000 residence nil‑rate band if they leave a qualifying home to direct descendants. Any unused allowances can be transferred to a surviving spouse or civil partner, potentially doubling the tax‑free amount to £1 million.
Yes. You can make gifts up to £3,000 per tax year under the annual exemption and give small gifts of up to £250 per person. Wedding gifts of £5,000 (to a child) or £2,500 (to a grandchild) are also exempt. Regular payments out of surplus income are not capped, provided they do not affect your standard of living. Other gifts fall under Potentially Exempt transfers and have a seven-year window with taper reliefs. Gifts where you continue to benefit are caught by the gift with reservation rules.
BPR can reduce IHT by 100% on a business or interest in a business or shares in an unlisted company, and by 50% on certain other assets such as controlling shares in a listed company and land, buildings or machinery used in a business. APR provides up to 100% relief on agricultural property farmed by the owner or let on certain tenancies; otherwise, relief is 50%. From April 2026 the 100% relief may be limited to the first £1 million of combined BPR and APR assets.
The earlier the better. Many Inheritance tax reliefs require survival for seven years or ownership for at least two years. Legislative changes such as the forthcoming cap on BPR and APR and the inclusion of most pension pots in estates from April 2027 mean you should review your plan regularly.
Take the Next Step
Inheritance Tax planning is far too important to leave to chance. Protect your legacy by speaking with our experts. Whether you need a complete estate plan or advice on a specific issue, UK Property Accountants can help.
What our clients say about us
Testimonials
Rendering the best service with a team of qualified and regulated accountants and tax advisers.
Our Process
How We Work
Our work is centred around efficiency, collaboration, and delivering exceptional results to our clients.
Discovery Call
We start with a free consultation to understand your assets, family circumstances and objectives.
In‑Depth Analysis
Our advisers review your estate, quantify potential liabilities and identify applicable reliefs and exemptions.
Personalised Plan
We prepare a report modelling different scenarios - gifts, trusts, business relief, property structuring and more.
Implementation Support
We assist with setting up trusts, drafting wills, transferring assets and coordinating with your other advisers.
UK Property Accountants is a leading firm of chartered certified accountants and chartered tax advisers specialising in the property and real estate sector with head office in Central London.
© 2026 UK Property Accountants | All Rights Reserved