Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning
Tax Compliance & Advisory
At Valentis, we offer strategic Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning that keeps your money safe, protects your legacy, and lowers your tax bill. We help you plan with complete confidence, whether you’re a high-net-worth individual, a business owner, or a family trustee. We make sure your estate is passed on quickly and in full compliance with HMRC’s IHT rules and allowances.
We offer lifetime gifting strategies, nil-rate band planning, spousal reliefs, trust structuring, and asset distribution, all of which can be customised to fit your needs as an individual or a business. We take the guesswork out of estate taxes and give you clear, helpful advice on how to lower your tax bill and keep your family’s wealth for future generations.
What Is Inheritance Tax (IHT) Planning?
Planning for inheritance tax (IHT) is a crucial aspect of managing your estate. If your assets, such as your home, investments, business interests, and personal wealth, are worth more than the current IHT threshold (the nil-rate band), your estate could have to pay up to 40% in taxes when it is passed on. This could mean that your family or chosen beneficiaries receive significantly less money than they would have otherwise.
At Valentis, we work with you to create a personalised inheritance tax plan that minimises the tax burden on your estate. We ensure that your estate is distributed in a tax-efficient manner and in full compliance with HMRC by considering factors such as gifting allowances, business property relief, and residence nil-rate bands, as well as structuring trusts, succession plans, and intergenerational transfers.
We help you keep your wealth across generations, whether you’re a wealthy person, a business owner, or just someone who cares about the future of your estate. We do this with complete clarity, openness, and control.
Our IHT Planning Services Include:
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Lifetime gifting strategies and use of exemptions
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Trust creation and management
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Nil rate band and residence nil rate band optimisation
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Business property and agricultural property relief claims
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Whole-of-life insurance policy review and implementation
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Intergenerational wealth transfer strategies
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Estate valuation and IHT exposure forecasting
Capital Gains Tax Reporting Services
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HMRC-compliant 60-day property CGT return submission
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Year-end CGT returns via Self-Assessment
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Full gain and loss computations
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Availability review for reliefs like PPR, BADR, Rollover, Holdover
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Optimisation of disposals around the annual exemption
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Jointly held asset calculations for spouses/civil partners
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Sales and rebasing reviews for non-UK domiciled clients
Who We Support
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High-net-worth individuals with complex estates
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SME owners planning business succession
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Property portfolio landlords and real estate investors
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Families seeking multi-generational financial security
Tools & Expertise
We utilise cloud-based platforms for real-time estate planning visibility and work in tandem with solicitors and independent financial advisors (IFAs) to offer a 360-degree planning experience. Our team includes Chartered Tax Advisors with deep expertise in UK trust law and international assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Gifting assets during your lifetime can significantly reduce the taxable value of your estate — but only when appropriately structured. Gifts may be eligible for Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETs) or annual exemptions under current HMRC rules. However, if they are not timed or recorded correctly, they may still be subject to IHT. We at Valentis can help you determine the best ways to give gifts that comply with the seven-year rule, spousal exemptions, and overall estate planning, ensuring you receive the most benefits while still adhering to the rules.
Trusts can help lower IHT, but only in the right situations. They allow you to set aside assets for future generations, which may mean that they are exempt from paying taxes on them. However, trusts have their own complex rules and fees, including periodic charges (every ten years) and exit fees. At Valentis, we assess your personal and financial goals before determining whether a discretionary trust, bare trust, or interest-in-possession trust is the most suitable approach for your IHT strategy.
No, Business Property Relief (BPR) is not automatically granted, even if your business appears to meet the requirements. To get up to 100% relief on business assets that are passed on as part of your estate, the company must meet strict HMRC requirements about how long you’ve owned it (at least two years), what kind of activity it does (trading vs. investment), and how much control you have over it. Valentis helps you organise and record your business assets in a way that keeps them eligible for BPR and lowers the amount of inheritance tax you have to pay.
Let’s Secure Your Legacy – With Confidence
Your estate needs more than a one-size-fits-all IHT plan. At Valentis, we help wealthy individuals and family business owners create inheritance tax plans that protect their wealth, reflect their wishes, and reduce their risk, all without making things too complicated.
Talk to an expert today. Please fill out the form to request your private consultation. We will review your situation, identify the most significant risks, and outline your next steps in a clear, confident, and fully compliant manner.