Inheritance Tax & Estate Planning

Helping you pass on more to the people who matter most

Passing on your wealth is one of the most meaningful financial decisions you'll ever make. Whether you want to help your children onto the property ladder, support your grandchildren’s education, or leave a lasting legacy, estate planning is essential.

At Thirlwell IFA, we provide clear, tailored Inheritance Tax (IHT) and estate planning advice to help you minimise unnecessary tax and ensure your assets reach your loved ones tax-efficiently.

Inheritance Tax is no longer just a concern for the very wealthy. With rising property values and asset growth, more families are now at risk of IHT—which is charged at up to 40% on your estate above a certain threshold.

The current Nil Rate Band (NRB) allows each individual to pass on up to £325,000 tax-free. This allowance can be transferred between spouses or civil partners, offering a combined tax-free threshold of up to £650,000. On top of this, the Residential Nil Rate Band could add an additional £175,000 per person—if your home is left to direct descendants.

But good planning goes far beyond thresholds.

We help you navigate complex choices—like who should benefit from your estate, or who is best placed to act as trustee. For example, you may wish to avoid passing money directly to beneficiaries who are very young, going through a divorce, or facing financial instability.

Our estate planning services include:

• Advising on lifetime gifting strategies to reduce IHT exposure
• Helping you establish trusts or tax-efficient investment structures
• Incepting Whole of Life policies, to pay a future Inheritance Tax bill
   

Building your wealth takes effort, vision and discipline—protecting it for the next generation takes careful planning and expert advice.

With professional guidance, you can reduce your estate’s exposure to unnecessary tax while ensuring your wealth reflects your values and intentions. As a fully independent estate planning adviser, we’ll guide you through each step with clarity and confidence.

Please note: Wills and Trusts planning may involve services that are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Tax treatment varies according to individual circumstances and may change in future. The levels and bases of taxation, and reliefs from taxation, can change at any time. The value of any tax relief generally depends on individual circumstances.