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Inheritance Tax

How to Calculate Inheritance Tax

Calculating Inheritance Tax correctly requires more than comparing the estate value to a single threshold. A number of allowances, exemptions, and reliefs interact to produce the final taxable figure.

Step 1: Gross estate value

Add together the date-of-death value of all assets owned solely by the deceased, their share of jointly owned assets (for tenants in common), and any gifts made in the seven years before death not covered by an exemption.

Step 2: Deduct liabilities

Deduct all outstanding debts, mortgages, credit cards, utility bills, and reasonable funeral costs to reach the net estate value.

Step 3: Apply exemptions

Deduct any exempt amounts, such as assets passing to a surviving spouse or civil partner (generally fully exempt) and assets passing to qualifying charities.

Step 4: Determine the available threshold

Calculate the total nil rate band: the standard £325,000 plus any TNRB, RNRB, and TRNRB that apply.

Step 5: Calculate the tax

Subtract the available threshold from the net taxable estate. Multiply any positive result by 40% for the IHT liability. A reduced rate of 36% applies where at least 10% of the qualifying estate is left to charity.

Why you should not attempt this without proper guidance

Each step involves specific rules and documentation. An error at any step affects the final liability. Missing a valid allowance means paying more IHT than the estate owes. YouCanDoProbate performs every step of this calculation automatically and produces an accurate IHT400.

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Trustpilot five star rating
Peace of mind at fraction of cost & well worth the money.

I knew no IHT was due but with my mother’s nil residential band bit it meant I had to fill in IHT400, then it became various other IHT forms and I lost the will to live, as many of the questions aren’t in simple English. I had quotes from 3-8k just to fill in forms (One bank account, one shared house & one bond). Found the youcandoprobate website – phoned them up & had chat – no sales pressure. After a few days and looking at the forms again & getting confused, I signed up. Took 3 hours to fill in forms, got slightly lost at one point & requested a call back. Lovely chap found the problem (my input numbers in wrong box) corrected them and then stayed on phone while it re-calculated to make sense. Printed all forms off and have just received my code from HMRC. £495 well spent and peace of mind that all forms were correct. One thinks “ IHT I can manage that”, then IHT435 & 436 and then another one with pensions etc etc. I think I ended up sending about 6 different IHT forms in and I know if I had ploughed on myself I would not have sent all the correct forms in.

kch
Trustpilot five star rating
Easy to use and great support – would recommend

I am a qualified accountant (although not a tax specialist, so no IHT experience), but even had that not been the case I’m sure I would have found the software easy and intuitive to follow. Helpline queries were answered very quickly and helpfully (within 24 hours). Absolutely didn’t need a solicitor. All 13 IHT forms were generated for me which I’d never have been able to do without help. I decided to apply for the probate certificate online to save time and just took the printout from the software and replicated it on the probate portal – again very easy.

customer
Trustpilot five star rating
Fantastic platform for probate.

To significantly reduce the cost of using a solicitor to do probate for my late mother; we decided to attempt probate ourselves. The platform was excellent and made what could be a difficult task, very manageable. The information required would have to be given to the solicitor, so it didn’t feel challenging inputting it ourselves (although her estate was relatively straight forward). It was great having support at the end of the phone. We had a couple of queries, which were responded to quickly and well. We were so impressed with the clear instructions at each stage and how the relevant forms were automatically generated for both HMRC and subsequently for probate. From starting to input data to gaining grant of probate took us 8 weeks! Would highly recommend.

Zen Zenny
Trustpilot five star rating
Easy to use

Easy to use , never needed to contact them , awaiting the grant but confident having used you can do probate I’m not expecting mistakes

Debbie Zappa
Trustpilot five star rating
I can truly recommend YouCanDoProbate…

I can truly recommend YouCanDoProbate for an Estate that falls below the IHT threshold. The portal is excellent and easy to use and walks you through the process brilliantly. The support is also excellent with special mention for Tom. Many thanks to all

Andy Lewis
Trustpilot five star rating
YouCanDoProbate was great, I would recommend !

YouCanDoProbate was great and took you carefully through all the questions & areas that are needed to complete and submit Probate forms and calculate any IHT payable. It may seem a daunting task, but taking it one section at a time, I was able to complete and obtain probate saving thousands in Solicitors fees. Most of the information you are going to have to obtain yourself, even if using a Solicitor.

Customer
Trustpilot five star rating
Excellent Service

i recently used you can do probate and found the whole process quite straight forward , its a lot cheaper than engaging probate solicitors and the advice and support you can do probate offer is very good , if you need to book a call for advice you get it same day normally within the hour of booking it

Stephen Knight
Trustpilot five star rating
This service was an absolute Godsend

This service was an absolute Godsend! Faced with the daunting task of applying for probate after my Father’s death I was completely bamboozled by the number of forms and which ones were relevant. YouCanDoProbate made the whole process simple and easy to understand with advice and reassurance on hand at every step of the way. It was a very reasonable cost for an invaluable service. I would absolutely recommend this product.

Karen White
Trustpilot five star rating
Having spoken to HMRC for advice…

Having spoken to HMRC for advice following the death of my Mum they told me what forms I needed…. the forms were multiple, long and confusing as where the notes to help you fill in the forms !!! This platform just seemed too good to be true which is what I said to Tom when I phoned to enquire . He was very informative and reassuring about how and why it works and reassured me there is constant support during the whole process of completion. I sat with the HMRC forms one more time, gave up again and then I registered on the platform which took minutes , paid my £499 and I never looked back . It really does all the work for you and yes on the couple of occasions I did need guidance Tom was there calling me back after logging a support call within half an hour . Completed the platform …. Probate forms then all printed off from the information you have already input and then just a trip to the post office to post and then peace of mind !! Now I’m just waiting for it to be processed by the Probate office .

Karen
Trustpilot five star rating
Ease of use

Ease of use , consideration and understanding, knowledge of the system , made it as easy as possible

john
Trustpilot five star rating
Easy navigation

Easy to follow, well guided

Carol Lent
Trustpilot five star rating
Obtaining Probate need not be daunting.

I had obtained Probate twice before this one so the process was not completely unknown to me. However, since my last effort there have been changes to the process, so I looked for guidance and found YouCanDoProbate and decided to use them and their package. I cannot recommend them highly enough – the package and the support that accompanies it is superb. Thank you so much.

Thelma
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Additional costs: The probate registry fee of £526 (for all estates over £5,000) and any additional official copies at £2 each. (Payable directly to HM Courts and Tribunals Service by cheque or postal order, enclosed with your application forms).
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© YouCanDoProbate • YouCanDoProbate is a trading name of Kabing Ltd.
YouCanDoProbate is an online platform providing legal forms and information. YouCanDoProbate is not a law firm and is not regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Our online probate and inheritance tax service is an online platform providing probate and inheritance tax forms and information to allow you to complete inheritance tax returns and apply for probate yourself. Our telephone, email and livechat support provides guidance only, we do not provide bespoke advice, including estate planning or tax advice and it is not a substitute for a lawyer’s advice about complex estate planning or tax issues.
© Kabing Ltd | All Rights Reserved. Company number 12125399.

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