Are you aware of all the tax benefits under Inheritance Tax for Married Couples and Civil Partners? Even if you’re not married, there are ways to optimize your tax strategy. By considering a combined position, rather than handling each person individually, you may unlock greater benefits.
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How to Avail of Inter-spouse Exemption?
The main inheritance tax benefit of being married or in a civil partnership is the inter-spouse exemption. Transfers between married couples and civil partners are not subject to inheritance tax. This applies both to lifetime transfers and to those made on death.
The inter-spouse exemption makes it possible for the first spouse or civil partner to die to leave their entire estate to their partner without triggering an IHT liability, regardless of whether it exceeds the nil rate band.
Transferable Nil Rate Band
The proportion of the nil-rate band that is unused on the death of the first spouse or civil partner can be used by the surviving partner on his or her death. This makes tax planning easier and there is no panic about each spouse using their nil rate band.
If the entire estate is left to the spouse on the first death, on the death of the surviving spouse or civil partner, there will be two nil rate bands to play with.
If the first spouse or civil partner to die has used some of their nil rate band, for example, to leave part of their estate to their children, the surviving spouse or civil partner can utilize the remaining portion.
It should be noticed that the unused percentage is transferred, rather than the absolute amount. This amount is unused at the time of the first death for an automatic uplift for increases in the nil rate band.
The nil rate band is currently £325,000.
Residence Nil Rate Band
The residence nil rate band (RNRB) is an additional nil rate band that is available where the main residence is left to a direct descendant. It is set at £150,000 for 2019/20 and will increase to £175,000 for 2020/21. The nil rate band is currently £325,000 for 2024/25. The RNRB is reduced by £1 for every £2 by which the value of the estate exceeds £2 million.
As with the nil rate band, the unused proportion of the RNRB can be transferred to the surviving spouse.
Example
George and Maud have been married for over 50 years. Maud died in 2017 leaving £32,500 to each of her two children. The remainder of her estate, including her share of the family home, was left to her husband George.
George died in July 2019. At the time of his death, his estate was worth £780,000 and included the family home, valued at £550,000, which was left equally to the couple’s children, Paul and Joanna.
At the time of her death, Maud had used up £65,000 of her nil rate band. The nil rate band at the time of her death was £325,000. The transfer to George was covered by the inter-spouse exemption and was free from inheritance tax.
Maud has used up £65,000 of her nil rate band (20%), leaving 80% unused. She has not used her RNRB band as she left her share of her main residence to George.
On George’s death, the executors can claim the unused portion of Maud’s nil rate band and RBRB. The nil rate bands available to George are as follows:
| Nil Rate Bands | £ |
| George’s nil rate band | 325,000 |
| George’s RNRB | 150,000 |
| The unused portion of Maud’s nil rate band (80% of £325,000) | 260,000 |
| The unused proportion of Maud’s RNRB (100% of £150,000) | 150,000 |
| Total | £885,000 |
As George’s estate on death is less than the available nil rate bands, no inheritance tax is payable.
Additional note: IHTA 1984, ss. 8A, 18.
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Disclaimer: The information about How Inheritance Tax Works for Married Couples and Civil Partners? provided in this article including text and graphics. It does not intend to disregard any of the professional advice.
