Costly procrastination: Why inheritance tax is becoming a wider UK problem

'There is a clear disconnect between awareness and follow‑through'

clock • 4 min read

The real challenge in IHT planning today is not a lack of solutions, it is a lack of timely action, writes Hugi Clarke

Inheritance tax has long been seen as a problem for the future – something easily postponed and better left to deal with later. Increasingly, that assumption is proving both outdated and costly. A combination of frozen thresholds, rising asset values and policy changes is steadily expanding the number of estates caught by IHT. Around 32,000 estates paid the tax in 2022/23 , but that figure is expected to rise sharply, with an additional 30,000 estates forecast to fall into scope by 2030. For business owners, investors and the UK's growing mass‑affluent population, this shift has real ...

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

More on Tax planning

Labour leadership contest: What a change could mean for IHT on pensions

Labour leadership contest: What a change could mean for IHT on pensions

Advisers warned against banking on U-turn

Jen Frost
clock 28 May 2026 • 6 min read
Tax-efficient investments: Client needs that cannot be ignored

Tax-efficient investments: Client needs that cannot be ignored

'The reality is that tax planning is fast becoming the dominant theme of advice'

Andrew Aldridge
clock 27 May 2026 • 5 min read
IHT on pensions: 'HMRC wants to have its cake and eat it'

IHT on pensions: 'HMRC wants to have its cake and eat it'

IHT on pensions comes into effect in April 2027

Andrew Tully
clock 26 May 2026 • 4 min read