Inheritance tax (IHT) is back in the spotlight as speculation mounts over what the Chancellor will announce in the Autumn Budget this November. The threshold at which estates begin to pay IHT has been frozen for over a decade, dragging more families into the net as property prices and asset values rise.

The Government has so far resisted calls to raise the £325,000 threshold, arguing that IHT affects only a small proportion of estates. Yet critics say the tax is increasingly unfair, hitting middle-class households in the South East particularly hard due to high property prices, while wealthier families can often avoid it through careful planning.

In fact, had the £325,000 threshold increased in line with inflation every year since it was last raised in 2009, the threshold would actually be £523,000 today, based on inflation figures from the Office for National Statistics:

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged to “review unfair tax breaks”, and has already scrapped inheritance tax relief for agricultural estates, fuelling expectations that more reforms could be announced on November 26.

And with pressure on to close the estimated £40 billion gap between Government spending and revenue, Ms Reeves could reduce the threshold or tighten exemptions.

What is clear is the tax is biting more people each year, with new analysis by NimbleFins revealing record numbers of estates now liable.

What is the inheritance tax threshold?

The inheritance tax threshold – also known as the nil-rate band – is the value of an estate that can be passed on tax-free. Anything above this threshold is taxed at 40%.

Currently, the nil-rate band is set at £325,000 per person. This has not changed since 2009, despite house prices more than doubling over the same period.

There is also a residence nil-rate band, introduced in 2017, which allows an extra £175,000 to be passed on when the family home is left to direct descendants. This means an individual can pass on up to £500,000 without paying IHT, or £1 million for a married couple.

Inheritance tax threshold over time

Because the inheritance tax threshold has been frozen for 14 years, the number of estates paying inheritance tax has surged.

NimbleFins analysis of HMRC data shows about 31,500 estates paid IHT in 2022/23, the highest figure since the threshold was first raised to £325,000 (in 2009), and the fourth highest in the last 20 years.

This chart illustrates how the number of deaths resulting in an IHT charge has fluctuated over the past two decades, falling sharply after the financial crisis but climbing steadily since 2010.

Rachel Reeves inheritance tax changes

Speculation is mounting that Chanceller Rachel Reeves could change the threshold in the Autumn Budget on November 26, or crack down on tax reliefs.

Insiders suggested the Chancellor may look at curbing reliefs used by the wealthy, following her axing of agricultural relief when farms are passed down to children.

Treasury officials are looking at the impact of tightening rules on the gifting of money and assets, the Guardian reported.

NimbleFins previously explained how inheritance tax tapering works when it comes to gifting money.

Although it’s not looking likely, if Rachel Reeves was to increase the inheritance tax threshold in line with inflation since 2009, £325,000 should rise to £523,000.

Inheritance tax threshold for married couples

For married couples and civil partners, the inheritance tax rules are more generous. When one partner dies, assets can usually be passed to the survivor free of IHT.

In addition, any unused portion of the nil-rate band can be transferred to the surviving partner. This means couples can effectively combine their allowances to leave up to £1 million tax-free if they also use the residence nil-rate band.

This is particularly significant in the South East and London, where property values often exceed the individual £325,000 threshold. Indeed, NimbleFins research shows the South East had the highest number of estates liable for IHT in 2022/23, at 6,650, followed by London with 5,100.

Read more:

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• How Much Does it Cost to Draw Up a Will?