Inheritance tax

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Gifts and IHT

10th March 2023
A couple have received conflicting advice about reducing their potential inheritance tax (IHT) liability by making gifts. One view is that they need to survive at least three years from when a gift is made to save IHT. The other advice says they must survive seven. Which view is correct?  Kenny Logan from our Edinburgh...
Residence nil rate band when no residence

Residence nil rate band when no residence?

9th September 2022
Your father recently died having spent the last two years in care. Last year you sold his home to help pay the nursing home fees. When preparing the inheritance tax forms, are you entitled to claim the residence nil rate band?  Tax Partner Brona MacDougall discusses. The inheritance tax (IHT) residence nil rate band (RNRB)...

Easily avoid a life insurance tax trap

25th November 2021
Life insurance policies generally pay out a premium in the event of the policyholder’s death. However, recently published figures from HMRC suggest that many of them are falling into an easily-avoided tax trap. The idea behind a life insurance policy is simple – the individual agrees to pay premiums for a fixed period of time....

Exposing hidden business property relief

7th June 2021
Inheritance tax (IHT) planning often involves giving away your wealth, but as a business owner business property relief (BPR) can significantly reduce IHT. What can you do to help your estate achieve the maximum relief? Inheritance tax expert Brona MacDougall advises. IHT and business property Where you own a business, or a share of one,...

Protecting the value of your home from IHT

4th November 2020
The residence nil rate band (RNRB) can increase the amount of your estate that will escape inheritance tax. But when can the RNRB apply and what steps can you take to ensure that your beneficiaries benefit from the tax savings?  Lauren Herbert discusses. Naturally, you want your beneficiaries to receive as much of your estate...

Planning a Trust for your kids?

3rd November 2020
You may think that having a Trust for your adult kids is a very sensible thing to do, indeed what could possibly go wrong? But the truth is that there are a number of potential tax pitfalls when parents transfer investment property into a discretionary trust for their adult children. Tax Expert Brona MacDougall takes...

Tax relief for farmers

2nd October 2020
You own and operate a farm, you are many years away from retirement but you would like to know about possible relief from inheritance tax, particularly in relation to your farmhouse. IHT expert Brona MacDougall discusses the key issues. Generally speaking, agricultural property relief (APR) works in a similar way to business property relief (BPR),...

Families, Gifts and Tax?

8th September 2020
Your son is struggling with his finances and has come to you for some help. You have been paying some of his household bills until he gets back on his feet. But what are the tax consequences that you and your son should consider? Inheritance tax expert Brona MacDougall provides the answers. You may have...
Inherited assets - who is liable for capital gains tax

Inherited assets – who is liable for capital gains tax?

6th August 2020
Mrs A is the executor of her mother’s estate. Some valuable items were left to her and her sister. She wants to sell several of these to pay debts of the estate. Will there be any tax and if so, who is responsible for it? Family tax expert Brona MacDougall provides the answers. Administering an...

How to avoid the ‘Seven-year glitch’

3rd January 2020
Giving away your wealth to members of your family reduces your estate for inheritance tax purposes, but only after seven years. However, it is possible to achieve the same result without the wait. What steps do you need to take? Inheritance tax expert Brona MacDougall has some valuable advice for you. Any tax expert will...