Inheritance tax - pensions v individual savings account

Are Individual savings accounts (ISA) subject to inheritance tax?

Money held in an ISA forms part of the deceased person’s estate on death. If the money from the ISA is inherited by their spouse/civil partner no inheritance tax will be payable as it’s covered by the spousal inheritance tax exemption. However, it will form part of the spouse/civil partner’s estate on their death if any of the ISA money remains.

If the ISA money is passed to anyone other than the spouse/civil partner, such as an adult child, it will be included in the value of the estate and may be liable for inheritance tax. If the value of the estate is more than the inheritance tax nil rate band of £325,000, tax of 40% may be payable on any excess.

Are pensions subject to inheritance tax?

Pension funds are normally inheritance tax exempt on death if the scheme is written under trust (and most are) and the trustee/administrator has discretion on who to pay the benefits to. Certain plans can be subject to inheritance tax unless placed under trust, as these are paid directly to the estate or a named person, but if paid to the spouse/civil partner no inheritance tax will be payable as it’s covered by the spousal inheritance tax exemption. The following types of plans could be subject to inheritance tax:

• Section 32 (buy-out plans)
• retirement annuity contracts (Section 226)

However, if the tax-free cash and other withdrawals have already been taken from a pension, they may be in the estate on death, and be subject to inheritance tax.

If on death, the benefits are held in a beneficiary/nominee drawdown plan, the benefits remain outside the beneficiaries/nominee’s estate.

Beneficiaries who continue with drawdown can nominate someone to receive the funds following their death, allowing the funds to pass through the generations while still being in the pensions tax wrapper and therefore outside the survivor’s estate for inheritance tax.

Individuals in poor health could be subject to inheritance tax if they transfer their benefits to a new plan or they contribute to a pension, and they die within two years. More information can be found in our case study How inheritance tax might apply to a pension transfer. 

Third party contributions to a pension can be used to reduce inheritance tax by reducing the value of the estate before death. The contributions are classed as gifts for inheritance tax, and the usual exemptions apply, so £3,000 can be paid as an exempt gift. If it can be shown regular contributions can be paid out of income without affecting the standard of living, they will be exempt.

If none of the exemptions apply and the individual survives for at least seven years after making a contribution, that contribution will be inheritance tax free as this is gift will be a potentially exempt transfer.