Inheritance tax: How much money can you give to grandchildren without paying HMRC tax | Personal Finance | Finance

The latest HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures show a record amount of inheritance tax was taken in June. However, there are some key ways Britons can pay less.

Although Britons can give as much money to their loved ones as they like, it pays to be aware of the tax implications.

Jenny Holt, managing director for customer savings, and investments at Standard Life said: “Sharing wealth with children and grandchildren can provide a wonderful sense of well-being and joy for people aiming to pass on part of their savings to family members, often to help with big expenses such as weddings or education fees, to pay off debt or get on the property ladder.

“Even though you can gift as much of your money to loved ones as you like, it’s vital to be aware of the tax implications to avoid unexpected tax charges which reduce the full benefit of your gift.

“There are many tax-efficient ways you can support your loved ones and being well-informed about the options for your family’s circumstances will put you in the best position to make the most of your money, and their future.

“However, it is a complex area, so it’s well worth seeking financial advice for your situation.”

DON’T MISS:
Nationwide issues warning as Briton targeted for £18k in scam [WARNING]
New triple lock threat as State Pension to hit £209 a week [ALERT]
Press a button on your boiler to instantly save on energy bills [INSIGHT]
Money making tips: Millionaire shares how he retired early at 35 [UPDATE]

Standard Life’s Jenny Holt outlines tips for gifting to children or grandchildren tax-free:

Give regularly – “You can gift up to £3,000 to anyone in a tax year, and gift £250 to as many people as you want without paying any inheritance tax (IHT). This can be carried forward one year but if you don’t use it then, you will lose it. So, giving money to your loved ones regularly can be an effective way to minimise the IHT payable on your estate on your death.”

Pay into their ISA – “You can open a Junior ISA (JISA) for your child or save into one on your grandchild’s behalf. Currently, you can pay up to £9,000 in total in a tax year into a JISA and that money can be invested, which gives a chance for their savings to increase over time. They can access the money when they reach the age of 18 and they won’t pay any tax on anything they withdraw or pay Capital Gains Tax on any investment growth either. There’s also the option to support their Lifetime ISA – which can be opened by anyone between the age of 18 and 39 and could help them save for a property or boost their pension savings.”

Think about the benefits of using a trust – “Using a trust allows you to support your grandchildren while you’re still around, as well as offering a number of tax advantages. As a trustee, you retain an element of control over the funds and how and when they’re paid, while gifts made to the trust can reduce your estate for IHT. Using a discretionary trust gives grandparents the greatest flexibility and control, but the taxation is higher and more complex. You should seek Financial Advice if you are considering using a trust to help you select the right option for your circumstances.”

Give larger gifts… but be aware of the seven-year rule – “If you want to gift larger sums to individuals, these won’t be counted for IHT purposes if you live for seven years afterwards. If you don’t live for the full seven years, the money you’ve given will be added to the value of your estate, eating into your £325,000 threshold.
Remember, you are unable to set any part of a tax-free allowance previously inherited from a spouse or partner, or the tax-free allowance (up to £175,000) associated with gifting the family home to children or grandchildren, against these lifetime gifts. If you have used all of the available IHT allowances, the gift will be taxed at up to 40%, although the amount of IHT to be paid may be reduced based on how many of the seven years have been passed since the gift was made – this reducing scale is known as taper relief.”

However, people should bear in mind the differences between gifting to a grandchild and gifting to a child. Some key points to note:

People can give gifts worth up to £2,500 in a year to a grandchild or great-grandchild (on top of your annual exemption) if they’re getting married – but this increases to £5,000 if it’s your child.

Grandparents can’t open a JISA for a grandchild – that must be done by the child’s parent or legal guardian.

Parents who make a gift to an unmarried child under 18 will have the income from the gift taxed as if it were theirs. This is to stop parents trying to get a tax break by using their children’s allowances. This rule doesn’t apply to grandparents or to gifts from parents to their children’s JISAs.