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Death benefits & inheritance tax
Pensions freedoms in 2015 introduced major changes to pension death benefit options and taxation. Here we provide some technical support to help you.
Important Information
In her Autumn 2024 Budget statement, Rachel Reeves announced the government’s intention to bring unused pension funds and death benefits within the value of an individual’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027.
More detail can be found in our article Inheritance tax on pension death benefits from April 2027.
Continuing professional development
Continuing professional development
CPD | Pensions death benefit taxation and IHT
In this webinar we explain the impact of the lifetime allowance abolition on death benefits, share insights from the 21 July 2025 consultation, and outline IHT payment options for Personal Representatives and beneficiaries.
CPD | Putting protection on the wealth agenda
In this webinar we discuss the importance of protection in holistic financial planning. It outlines the main protection risks faced by customers and explains how protection solutions can support clients in safeguarding their financial resilience.
Pension death benefits overview
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
Here we look at some of the questions we are asked most often.
Inheritance tax overview
Inheritance tax overview
When undertaking tax planning for clients understanding the normal expenditure out of income exemption is essential.
In her Autumn 2024 Budget statement, Rachel Reeves announced the government’s intention to bring unused pension funds and death benefits within the value of an individual’s estate for inheritance tax purposes from 6 April 2027.
We look at the changes announced in the Autumn Budget 2024 around inheritance tax business property relief and agriculture property relief.
UK Inheritance Tax being based on domicile is changing from 6 April 2025. Instead, whether an individual pays UK inheritance tax (‘IHT’) will be based on residence. This article looks at our understanding of this change.
Gifts made to anyone from your client’s estate are exempt from inheritance tax provided they survive for a period of 7 years from the date the gift is made. Here we explain how this works.
The Finance Act 2013 introduced a change which limits the deductibility of debts in certain circumstances. Here we explain the changes.
The House of Commons has produced a briefing paper on inheriting both state and private pension rights.
Calculate any potential inheritance tax liability based on an individual's assets and liabilities using our calculator.
Trusts overview
Trusts overview
A spousal bypass trust can be used to stop death benefits falling into the surviving spouse’s estate. Here we explain how this type of trust works.
Understanding the rules of intestacy in the UK
Understanding the rules of intestacy in the UK
Use our easy-to-follow flowcharts and article to help you explain to clients what would happen if they died without a will.
Ask a question
Ask any specific questions you might have about the world of pensions or protection to our technical experts.