Inheritance tax is usually something you only deal with after a family death. However, understanding the fundamentals can be financially wise, especially with anticipated changes in the upcoming Autumn Budget.

Reme Holland, financial planning partner at accountancy firm Albert Goodman, has now delved into the subject to help Brits make better decisions. He said: “Inheritance tax is one of those areas that is always under the spotlight, and it seems to be a popular point of discussion at the moment.

“We’ll see what happens in October, November time, but I would always say, don’t make any rash decisions. Seek advice first before you do anything.”

How does inheritance tax currently work?

“Every individual has a nil rate band of £325,000, which means you can have assets worth up to £325,000 and not be liable for any inheritance tax (IHT),” Holland explained. Inheritance tax applies only to assets exceeding this amount, with a standard rate of 40% over the threshold.

Are there any exemptions?

Yes, particularly if you’re married or in a civil partnership. “A spousal exemption means that a husband and wife [for instance] could leave everything to each other, and no inheritance tax would be due,” Holland continued. “It would only be due on the second death, at which point both those allowances [of £325,000] could be combined.”

Other exemptions include ‘business property relief and agricultural property relief if you’re in farms and estates’ and for those leaving their estate to a charity or a community amateur sports club.

However, Holland also added: “There is another exemption called the main residence nil rate band, which is a further £175,000 each for married couples. One of the conditions for having that extra allowance is the property has to be left to direct linear descendants, so children and grandchildren.”

What about gifts?

Gifting is where things get more complicated. Claire Exley, head of financial advice and guidance at Nutmeg, also said: “In most circumstances, there is no inheritance tax due on the value of gifts given seven or more years before you die.

“However, if you die within seven years of gifting money or another asset from your estate, then your loved ones may have to pay inheritance on the value of those gifts. How much will depend on when you gifted the asset and its value.”

This is the inheritance tax relief taper. “If you die within three years of gifting money or assets, the IHT rate will be 40%, this rate decreases each year, eventually reaching 0% if you survive for seven years,” Exley continued.

There are rules about how much you can gift too – around £3,000 in a single tax year, with as many smaller gifts, up to £250 per person, also allowed. Birthday and Christmas presents are exempt.

Also, you can’t request gifts back. Holland added: “If you are making a gift, you need to give it absolutely and not retain any benefit.”

What two potential changes are being proposed?

“One of the things the government has mooted over the summer is putting a cap on how much can be gifted, and that cap could be somewhere between £100,000 and £200,000,” Holland said.

The second change the Government has talked about is removing the taper. “So if you died at any point during those seven years, the full 40% IHT would be chargeable on the value of that gift,” he added.

What could this mean for ordinary people?

Reassuringly, Holland said: “In the grand scheme of things, these two changes to the value of lifetime gifts would affect those on the high end of wealth. The everyday person wouldn’t be impacted by a lifetime cap on gifts.

“However, if you couple these with some of the changes that are possibly coming into effect over the next two years, such as the treatment of pensions, and also, if you’re a business owner, it then might start to have an impact on more people.”

What can you do to prepare?

Holland recommends looking at your finances and speaking to an independent advisor so you’re informed about your options and can decide ‘whether there’s any scope to use surplus assets to make gifts’ earlier.

“If there is going to be an inheritance tax, and you want to retain a family home, you could look at an insurance policy to pay the cost,” he said. “You might want to ask your children, if they’re beneficiaries, to pay the cost of the insurance rather than yourself.”

Meanwhile, Exely said you can consider making regular payments to loved ones too. “There is no limit to the value of regular payments you can make to another person, for example if you’re helping with their living costs,” she noted.

“These are known as ‘normal expenditure out of income’, but it could include things like paying rent or a mortgage for your child, contributing to a savings account or Junior ISA for a child under 18 or providing financial support to an older relative, perhaps to help with care costs.”

Don’t forget to live your life

In spite of this advice, Holland summarised: “The most important thing is looking after yourself, making sure you’ve got enough money and assets to do all of those things you wanted to do. I appreciate wanting to help family, but don’t compromise on your own retirement because you’re trying to beat a tax – life’s for living. Enjoy your money. You’ve worked really hard for it.”