Inheritance tax rate bands and exemptions area as follows:
| 2020/21 | 2019/20 | |
| Standard exemption | £325,000 | £325,000 |
| Residence nil-rate band (family home allowance)* | £175,000 | £150,000 |
| Married couples/civil partners - combined threshold | £1m | £950,000 |
| Overseas domiciled spouse/civil partner exemption | £325,000 | £325,000 |
| Rate of tax on balance* | 40% | 40% |
| Chargeable lifetime transfers | 20% | 20% |
| Reduced rate | 36% | 36% |
* The additional residential nil-rate band is only available if the former home is left to children, grandchildren or more remote direct descendants.
It is possible to transfer unused nil-rate band allowances between spouses or civil partners. A claim may be made to utilise any unused nil rate band from the deceased spouse or civil partner's estate. It is also possible to carry over the unused residence nil-rate band.
The amount of the nil rate-band potentially available for transfer will be based on the proportion of the nil-rate band unused when the first spouse or civil partner died. If on the first death the chargeable estate is £162,500 and the nil-rate band is £325,000, then 50% of the original nil-rate band is unused. If the nil-rate band when the surviving spouse dies is £400,000, then that would be increased by 50% to £600,000.
All lifetime transfers not covered by exemptions and made within seven years of death will be added back into the estate for the purpose of calculating the tax payable. This may then be reduced by taper relief.
| Charge on gifts within seven years of death | |||||
| Years before death | 0-3 | 3-4 | 4-5 | 5-6 | 6-7 |
| Tax reduced by | 0% | 20% | 40% | 60% | 80% |
| Main reliefs | |
| Normal expenditure out of income | Exempt |
| Business property: | |
| Certain qualifying businesses or interest therein | 100% |
| Qualifying shareholders in unquoted* companies | 100% |
| Land, buildings, machinery, or plant used by transferor's controlled company or partnership |
50% |
| Certain farmland or buildings | 50% or 100% |
| *Unquoted companies include those listed on AIM and ISDX | |
