From April 2027, inherited pensions will be subject to Inheritance Tax and included in the ‘estate’ – which also includes property, possessions and money – of someone who has died
Major changes to Inheritance Tax rules mean your pension pots could be raided even if you haven’t reached retirement age yet.
Under current rules, there is no Inheritance Tax to pay if you inherit a pension from someone who died before the age of 75. If the person dies after the age of 75, then you pay Income Tax when you start to take money from the inherited pension.
But from April 2027, inherited pensions will be subject to Inheritance Tax and included in the “estate” – which also includes property, possessions and money – of someone who has died.
It has now been confirmed that this will even apply if the person died before reaching the age at which they can start accessing their pension. This is currently set at 55 but is rising to 57 from April 2028. It comes as DWP confirms new Winter Fuel Payment deadline with pensioners urged to act now.
Death in service payments will not be liable for Inheritance Tax. A spokesperson from HMRC told Pension Age said: “We continue to incentivise pensions savings for their intended purpose – of funding retirement instead of them being openly used as a vehicle to transfer wealth – and more than 90% of estates each year will continue to pay no inheritance tax after these and other changes.”
At present, not many families end up paying Inheritance Tax, as it only applies to transfers made within the seven years before someone has died.
If someone lives for more than seven years after making a gift, then this transfer is not subject to Inheritance Tax. For gifts given seven years before their death, it is taxed on a sliding scale known as “taper relief” which starts at 32%.
Inheritance Tax is also only due if the value of your estate is above £325,000 – although this can actually often be much higher depending on who you leave your estate to.
For example, there is no Inheritance Tax to pay when an estate is left to your spouse or civil partner. If you give away your home to your children – this includes adopted, foster or stepchildren, or your grandchildren – then the Inheritance Tax threshold can increase to £500,000.
This includes the basic £325,000 allowance, plus an additional £175,000. If you are married or in a civil partnership, any Inheritance Tax allowance that isn’t used can be passed on when someone dies.
This means a couple can potentially pass on as much as £1million without their estate being subject to Inheritance Tax. If your estate is subject to Inheritance Tax, then the standard rate is 40%.
There are ways to reduce how much Inheritance Tax is paid on your estate. Your rate of Inheritance Tax on some assets is reduced from 40% to 36% if you leave at least 10% of the net value after any deductions to a charity in your will.