Taxes on Inherited Property, Money, and Shares, U.K.
You do not have to pay any inheritance tax on property, money, and shares at the time of receiving it. But, you may eventually have to pay income tax and capital gains tax on the extra income/profit you make from the inheritance.
The executor or the beneficiary appointed for the estate is responsible for paying the inheritance tax from the estate before passing the inheritance to the heirs and beneficiaries.
If you owe any inheritance tax, the HMRC will contact you.
Who Pays Inheritance Tax on Inherited Property, Money, and Shares in the UK
At the time of writing a will, the estate owner will appoint an executor or an administrator who is responsible for distributing the estate and paying inheritance tax on it.
If the estate at the time of death is valued above £325,000, it will attract an inheritance tax of 40% on the surplus. However, you can reduce this nil rate band by making use of tax allowances from the U.K government.
Only one percent of the U.K. government’s total income comes from inheritance tax, so it is less likely that you’ll have to pay any inheritance tax. You may have to pay income tax and capital gains tax on the profits/gains you make from your inheritance.
Under certain circumstances, you may have to pay inheritance tax as well if the executor is unable to pay it for any reason.
When do You Pay Inheritance Tax as an Heir in the U.K
Usually the inheritance tax is paid from the estate when the owner dies. But, the heirs may have to pay this tax if –
- They have received a gift that is above the nil rate threshold and within 7 years from the date of death.
- Their inheritance has been put into a Trust that can’t or doesn’t pay
Tax on Property
You may have to pay inheritance tax, income tax, and capital gains tax on property. The requisites for each of these are different.
You usually don’t have to pay any tax on the property at the time of inheriting it. However, depending on your interaction with the property, you may have to pay tax on it later.
Inheritance tax on property
You’d have to pay inheritance tax on the property only if the estate can’t or doesn’t pay it, and the estate is valued above the nil-rate band.
Income tax on property
You would have to pay income tax on any proceeds you receive from the property like
- rent
- income from property in a Trust
Capital gains tax on property
There is no capital gains tax to be paid when you sell your inherited property. However, you do have to pay capital gains tax if you make a profit from selling an inherited property that isn’t your primary residence.
Tax on Money and Shares
The taxation on money and shares is the same as on property. You would have to pay inheritance tax, income tax, and capital gains tax on inherited shares and money under certain circumstances.
Inheritance tax on money and shares
You’ll have to pay inheritance tax on inherited money and shares if –
- The estate is valued above the nil rate threshold
- The estate is unable to or can’t pay the inheritance tax
Income tax on money and shares
Your money and shares will attract income tax if
- You have earned from the money and shares
- You have received dividend payments from the shares you inherited.
- Your money and shares have been valued as part of the estate above the nil rate band
Capital gains tax on money and shares
You might have to pay capital gains tax on your inherited shares and money if you sell your shares.
If these shares have appreciated in value since the time you inherited them, you will sell them at a higher price. You will have to pay capital gains tax on the difference.
You will have to pay capital gains tax even if the money and shares you inherited are valued below the nil rate band.
Saving your estate from tax in the U.K
If you think your estate can be valued above the nil rate band at the time of your death, you can make use of many allowances by the Government of the U.K to avoid taxes.
Avoid taxes by calculating your estate periodically. This can be tricky, especially if your estate is large. Your heirs may have to pay more income tax, and capital gains tax on inherited property, in addition to the inheritance tax.
Evaluating your estate and tax liabilities yourself can be grueling, especially if you are doing it for the first time. Enlist the help of trusted estate planners in London to value your estate correctly and avoid tax.