HMRC analyst gets award for IHT reforms role – reports

Reports prompt outrage from farmers

Jen Frost
clock • 2 min read

HM Revenue and Customs has reportedly given its ‘Expert of the year’ award to an analyst said to be in part responsible for pensions and agricultural property relief (APR) inheritance tax (IHT) changes, prompting anger from farmers.

HMRC head of inheritance tax James Mee was given the award last month, the Telegraph reported. "I was proud and humbled to win HMRC's 'Expert of the Year' award for 2025 last month," Mee wrote in a Linkedin post. "This was for my work in providing ministers with the analysis they requested to announce several major IHT reforms at last year's Autumn Budget, including restricting agricultural and business property reliefs and extending IHT to unspent pensions." In last year's Autumn Budget, chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that unused pension pots would be brought into IHT's scope fro...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

Jen Frost
Author spotlight

Jen Frost

Editor at Professional Adviser

More on Tax planning

Will the Budget be enough to halt the UK's high-net-worth exodus?

Will the Budget be enough to halt the UK's high-net-worth exodus?

'People are not buying into the chancellor's message that the UK is pro-business'

Stephen Kenny
clock 01 December 2025 • 4 min read
Budget 25: Key takeaways from Autumn Budget 2025

Budget 25: Key takeaways from Autumn Budget 2025

Eight key takeaways

Linus Uhlig
clock 27 November 2025 • 4 min read
Partner Insight: Inheritance Tax, pensions and the waiting game: Conversations to have now

Partner Insight: Inheritance Tax, pensions and the waiting game: Conversations to have now

With Inheritance Tax expanding and pensions coming into scope, now is the time for advisers to engage clients. Discover how to turn uncertainty into opportunity with strategic estate planning conversations.

Nick Priest Partner and Head of Strategic Partnerships, Downing
clock 26 November 2025 • 9 min read