Category
5 articles
The combined £1 million ceiling on 100% agricultural and business property relief, effective from April 2026, has turned succession planning into a valuation and governance exercise as much as a tax one. Families can still act, but the order of the steps matters.
Parents often lend to adult children with the best of intentions and the lightest of paperwork. Yet an undocumented family loan can be recharacterised as a gift, spark disputes between siblings and complicate an estate. A written record does not undermine trust; it gives the arrangement a chance to survive scrutiny.
A charitable legacy of at least 10% of the net estate can reduce the inheritance tax rate from 40% to 36%. But the statutory calculation is not the same as 10% of everything owned, and the difference matters for families weighing a charitable gift against the needs of the next generation.
Inheritance tax is due six months after the end of the month of death, whether or not probate has been granted. This practical guide sets out how families and advisers can organise paperwork, build liquidity and avoid being forced into a rushed sale of estate assets in 2026.
Handing wealth to children during life can be generous, tax-efficient and emotionally rewarding. It can also leave parents exposed to care costs, family friction and unintended consequences. In 2026, the case for early gifting needs a cooler-headed conversation.