Inheritance tax planning

Interactive trust decision tree

If your client has decided to invest in an investment bond, there are a number of trust arrangements they can use to help reduce their inheritance tax (IHT) liability.

This guide is simply designed to give some information about IHT planning solutions. It's essential that your client takes appropriate legal and tax advice before taking any action.

Does the client need flexibility and control over who can benefit from the trust and when?
Yes   No
If there's a chance that their family circumstances might change and they don't want a rigid arrangement, they can choose from our range of discretionary trusts.
If they're very clear that they want to give their money to one or several people, and there's no question of them changing their mind, they can take advantage of the range of bare trusts we offer.
Will they need access to the money in the future?
Yes   No
Are they UK domiciled (in other words, is their permanent home in the UK)?
Yes   No
Will they require regular fixed payments for life?
Yes   No
Consider using a bare gift trust for money which they won't need.
Will they need access to the money in the future?
Yes   No
They could consider using an excluded property trust if, in the future, it's likely that their permanent home will be in the UK.
Bare Gift Trust

A Bare Gift Trust is established via a gift to the trustees and the client will renounce all access to the money. The gift is considered a potentially exempt transfer (PET). The client can't change the named beneficiaries or their percentage share and the trustees must pay out the trust fund if adult beneficiaries ask for it.

Click here for more information on our Bare Gift Trust and the supporting documentation.

Consider using a bare loan trust
Consider using a bare discounted gift trust.
Will they require regular fixed payments for life?
Yes   No
Consider using a discretionary gift trust for money which they won't need.
Bare Loan Trust

A Bare Loan Trust is established via a loan to the trustees. The client can receive regular repayments, eg 5% a year tax deferred, or ad hoc repayments. The outstanding loan forms part of the client's IHT estate on death. However, the growth is immediately outside their IHT estate. The named beneficiaries can't be changed, nor can their percentage share.

Click here for more information on our Bare Loan Trust and the supporting documentation.

Bare Discounted Gift Trust

Bare Discounted Gift Trust - with this trust, the underwritten discount and growth on the bond are immediately outside the client's IHT estate. They're entitled to a fixed stream of payments from the trust during their lifetime as long as there's enough money in the trust fund. The gift after deduction of the underwritten discount is a PET. The client is able to select at the outset who benefits from the trust after their death.

Click here for more information on our Bare Discounted Gift Trust and the supporting documentation.

Discretionary Gift Trust

A Discretionary Gift Trust is established via a gift to the trustees and the client renounces all access to the money. The gift is a chargeable lifetime transfer (CLT). The trustees can control who benefits from the gift and when.

Click here for more information on our Discretionary Gift Trust and the supporting documentation.

Do they need access to the investment growth?
Do they need access to the investment growth?
Consider using a discretionary loan trust
Consider using a discretionary discounted gift trust
Discretionary Loan Trust

A Discretionary Loan Trust is established via a loan to the trustees. The client can receive regular loan repayments, eg 5% a year tax deferred or ad hoc repayments. The outstanding loan forms part of the client's IHT estate on their death. However, the growth is immediately outside the client's IHT estate. The trustees can control who benefits from the trust fund and when.

Click here for more information on our Discretionary Loan Trust and the supporting documentation.

Discretionary Discounted Gift Trust

Discretionary Discounted Gift Trust - with this trust, the underwritten discount and the growth on the bond are immediately outside the client's IHT estate. The client is entitled to a fixed stream of income payments from the trust during their lifetime as long as there's enough money in the trust fund. The gift after deduction of the underwritten discount is a chargeable lifetime transfer (CLT). The trustees can also control who benefit from the trust after the client's death.

Click here for more information on our Discretionary Discounted Gift Trust and the supporting documentation.