Inheritance Tax Planning

Protect your estate with strategic IHT planning

Inheritance tax can significantly reduce the wealth you pass to your loved ones. Our experienced team provides comprehensive estate planning and IHT mitigation strategies designed to protect your family legacy. From lifetime gifting and trusts to business property relief and probate support, we deliver clear, practical advice tailored to your personal circumstances.

Inheritance Tax Planning
About Us

Comprehensive Inheritance Tax Solutions

Estate planning, lifetime gifts, trusts and IHT compliance to protect your wealth for future generations.

Estate Planning & IHT Strategy

Lifetime Gifting Strategies

Trusts & Will Planning

Business Property Relief

Residence Nil Rate Band

Agricultural Property Relief

Pension & Life Assurance Planning

IHT Return Preparation & Compliance

Strategic IHT Planning for Peace of Mind

Inheritance tax rules are complex, but effective planning can substantially reduce or eliminate your IHT liability. We take time to understand your family objectives, asset structure and long-term goals, delivering tailored strategies that protect your wealth and provide complete peace of mind.

Maintaining Compliance

Stay fully compliant with all HMRC requirements

Reducing Liabilities

Strategic planning to minimise your tax burden

Protecting Long-Term Financial Wellbeing

Securing your financial future with expert guidance

Professional illustration

Protect your estate from inheritance tax

Strategic IHT planning, trusts, lifetime gifts and comprehensive estate protection

0121 777 1200info@rus.co.uk
1190A-1192 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8AB

Why Choose RUS for IHT Planning

Protect Your Family Legacy

Protect Your Family Legacy

Strategic planning to ensure your wealth passes to your loved ones, not HMRC

Experienced Estate Planners

Experienced Estate Planners

Decades of experience helping families navigate complex inheritance tax rules

Holistic Wealth Planning

Holistic Wealth Planning

IHT planning integrated with wider financial, business and succession strategies

Transparent Fees

Clear, Practical Guidance

Complex tax rules explained clearly with actionable strategies tailored to your goals

Client Testimonials

Hear from families we have helped protect their wealth

RUS helped us establish a family trust and restructure our business to minimise IHT. Their knowledge of business property relief saved our family hundreds of thousands. We cannot thank them enough.

Elizabeth Morgan

Business Owner

The inheritance tax planning advice from RUS gave us complete peace of mind. They explained complex rules clearly and provided a tailored strategy to protect our estate for our children.

Richard Thompson

Retired Professional

Following a bereavement, RUS handled the entire IHT return process professionally and compassionately. They liaised with HMRC, valued the estate accurately and made a difficult time much easier.

Margaret Stevens

Estate Executor

Ready to protect your family legacy?

Trusted inheritance tax specialists for over 30 years

0121 777 1200info@rus.co.uk
1190A-1192 Stratford Road, Hall Green, Birmingham, B28 8AB

Inheritance Tax FAQs

Common questions about inheritance tax planning

Inheritance tax (IHT) is charged on estates valued above £325,000 (the nil rate band) at 40%. If you leave your main residence to direct descendants, an additional residence nil rate band of up to £175,000 may apply, giving a combined threshold of £500,000 per person (or £1 million for a married couple). IHT is due on death, but can also apply to certain lifetime gifts and trusts. Strategic planning can significantly reduce or eliminate IHT liability.
There are numerous IHT planning strategies including making lifetime gifts, using annual exemptions, establishing trusts, maximising business property relief and agricultural property relief, optimising pension contributions and ensuring wills are structured tax-efficiently. The right strategy depends on your personal circumstances, asset types and family objectives. We provide tailored planning advice to minimise your IHT exposure legally and effectively.
Business Property Relief (BPR) provides 100% or 50% relief from IHT on qualifying business assets, including shares in unquoted trading companies, business assets used in a partnership or sole trade, and certain AIM-listed shares. To qualify, assets must generally be owned for at least two years before death. BPR is a powerful IHT planning tool for business owners and can substantially reduce or eliminate IHT on business wealth.
Trusts can be highly effective for IHT planning, allowing you to transfer assets out of your estate while retaining some control and flexibility. Discretionary trusts, life interest trusts and bare trusts each have different IHT treatments and benefits. However, trusts are complex and must be structured correctly to achieve the desired tax outcome. We work alongside solicitors to advise on trust strategies tailored to your circumstances.
Gifts made more than seven years before death are generally exempt from IHT. Gifts made within seven years of death may be taxable, but taper relief reduces the IHT charge on gifts made between three and seven years before death. Regular gifts out of income and gifts within annual exemptions (£3,000 per year) are immediately exempt. Strategic lifetime gifting is one of the most effective ways to reduce IHT, but must be planned carefully to avoid unintended consequences.
Yes. We provide compassionate, professional support to executors and families following a bereavement. Our service includes estate valuation, preparation of IHT400 returns (or IHT205 for excepted estates), liaison with HMRC, claiming reliefs and exemptions and ensuring compliance with probate requirements. We handle the entire process, allowing you to focus on family during a difficult time.

Inheritance Tax Insights

Expert advice and updates from our specialist team

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