Is there going to be a very short but expensive time to die in the UK?

With a raft of Inheritance Tax legislation published last week, it appear the government is not going to change course in regards to the big Inheritance Tax grab. The measures include limiting Business Property Relief/Agricultural Property Relief, and bringing pensions into the tax net.

The reforms come into force fully on 6th April 2027, and the latest date for the next general election is August 2029. Reform, who are now heavy favourites in the odds to win, have pledged to abolish Inheritance Tax completely.

This could, in theory, give an incredibly expensive (from an Inheritance Tax perspective) time to die in the UK, from 6th April 2027 to around sometime in 2029.

Ultimately, this could create a stark IHT lottery: your estate’s tax bill may depend less on your lifetime planning and more on the timing of your death – and the outcome of the next election.