Important: From April 2027, unused pension funds will form part of your taxable estate for inheritance tax purposes. If you have a pension, your IHT position may be about to change significantly.
Find out where you standMost people don't realise they have an inheritance tax problem until it's too late
Inheritance tax is one of those things families tend to put off. It feels complicated, uncomfortable, or simply not urgent. Until it is.
Rising property values have quietly pulled millions of ordinary families into IHT territory. If you own your home, have savings, or hold a pension, there is a reasonable chance your estate is carrying a tax liability your family will have to deal with when you're gone.
With proper planning, most of that liability can be reduced, deferred, or eliminated entirely. The window to act is open - but it doesn't stay open forever.
Sound familiar?
Your home has risen in value
Your property may now push your estate above the nil rate band threshold. Without a will and proper structure in place, your family could face a significant tax bill - and potential forced decisions about the family home.
You have a child who will need lifelong support
If your child has a disability or long-term care need, inheritance planning isn't just about tax - it's about making sure the right people have the right authority, and that the money you leave is protected and properly managed.
Your pension is your largest asset
From April 2027, unused pension funds will be brought into your taxable estate. If you haven't reviewed your IHT position with your pension in mind, now is the time.
You're managing an estate right now
If someone close to you has died and you're navigating probate, tax returns and family wishes simultaneously, we can help you understand what's owed, what can be reclaimed, and how to avoid the same situation for your own family.
What an inheritance tax specialist actually does for you
Inheritance tax planning isn't one thing. It's a combination of the right legal structures, the right timing, and a clear understanding of what you want to happen when you're no longer here. Working with an IHT specialist means:
Understanding your actual exposure
A proper calculation of your taxable estate, nil rate band, residential nil rate band, and what's currently at risk.
Structuring your estate correctly
Whether that's a will with a property trust, a deed of severance, a discretionary family trust, or a combination.
Protecting vulnerable beneficiaries
Ensuring assets left to a child or dependent with care needs are held and managed properly, with the right legal authority in place.
Planning around your pension
Reviewing how your pension interacts with your estate ahead of the April 2027 changes.
Putting Lasting Powers of Attorney in place
So that if you lose capacity, the right person can act without a lengthy court process.
April 2027
The pension IHT change you need to know about
For decades, pensions have sat outside your estate for inheritance tax purposes. That changes in April 2027.
From that date, any unused pension funds remaining at death will be included in the value of your taxable estate. For many people this will push their estate above the inheritance tax threshold for the first time.
If your pension is worth £200,000 and your home is worth £500,000, your total estate could be £700,000 - meaning a tax bill of £80,000 or more that would otherwise pass to your children.
There is still time to plan. But the window is narrowing.
Three steps to clarity
Discovery
Complete our short online discovery form. It takes around five minutes and gives us everything we need to understand your situation before we speak.
Consultation
A specialist will review your responses and contact you to arrange a consultation - at your home, by video, or by phone, whichever suits you. Free and no obligation.
Your Plan
If it makes sense to work together, we'll produce a clear written plan setting out exactly what we recommend, why, and what it costs. No surprises.
Why families choose Inheritance Made Simple
- Specialist estate planners with direct experience of complex family structures, care needs and property trusts
- Plain English throughout - no legal boilerplate
- Fixed fees quoted upfront - no hourly rates, no hidden charges
- Home visits available across our service area
- Most plans completed within three working days of receiving signed documents
Frequently Asked Questions
Ready to find out where your estate stands?
The discovery form takes five minutes. It costs nothing. And it could save your family tens of thousands of pounds.
Or call us on 01202 237 367
Completely confidential. No obligation. No fee.