Inheritance Tax Planning in Belgravia and St James's
Independent estate planning and inheritance tax advice for private clients in Belgravia, St James's, Pimlico and Westminster.
Prefer to write? advice@inheritancemadesimple.com
Inheritance tax in Belgravia and St James's
Belgravia and St James's contain some of the highest-value residential and commercial property in the UK. A family home in Eaton Square or a townhouse in St James's regularly sits well above £5m - before any consideration of investment portfolios, pension wealth or business interests.
The nil-rate bands are negligible in relation to SW1 estate values. Without a comprehensive strategy, 40% applies to substantially all of the estate above those thresholds - a tax bill that, on a typical Belgravia estate, runs comfortably into seven figures.
The work required is specialist and the timescale matters. The strategies that work - trusts, lifetime gifting, life cover written in trust, pension restructuring - all take time to mature.
The April 2027 pension changes - what SW1 clients need to know now
From 6 April 2027, unused pension assets fall inside the taxable estate for inheritance tax. For Belgravia and St James's clients with significant pension wealth, this adds a new and substantial layer of exposure on top of estates that are already significantly above the available nil-rate bands.
Pension wealth was, until recently, one of the most tax-efficient legacy vehicles in the UK system. From April 2027 it will be subject to 40% in the same way as the rest of the estate. The planning required to mitigate the impact is straightforward in principle but takes time to put in place.
Several of the most effective strategies will simply not be available after the change takes effect. The window to act runs through 2026 and into early 2027 - not beyond it.
Our services for Belgravia and St James's clients
The full range of estate planning services - trust planning, Will writing, pension coordination, Lasting Powers of Attorney, lifetime gifting programmes and business succession planning.
All delivered with the discretion, depth and personal attention that SW1 clients expect - a single point of contact, in-person meetings at our London W1J office, and a plan that is owned and reviewed across the full life of the estate, not handed over and forgotten.
Discretion and depth - what private clients in SW1 require
28 years of independent estate-planning practice. Not tied to any institution, platform or investment house - every recommendation is selected from the whole of market and explained in plain terms.
Every engagement begins with a complete estate review. Every recommendation is specific to the client's actual position rather than a template. The plan is reviewed regularly as circumstances change, as legislation moves and as the family takes shape over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Your 30 minutes. Simple. Yours.
No-obligation.
The path is simple: complete the Discovery first so we walk into the call already knowing the facts. Then in 30 focused minutes, I listen, answer your questions, and you choose if you'd like us to draw up your Inheritance Plan.
1. Start Your Discovery
Required first step. Complete the confidential financial position review so your no-obligation 30-minute consultation starts with the facts, not the basics.
2. Request a Callback
Prefer to speak first? Leave your details and we'll call you back to talk through the Discovery before you complete it.
You choose the date, time, and format - phone or online. Bring anyone you'd like.