Today’s HMRC IHT Figures
London, 23rd April 2026 – Commenting on this morning’s HMRC inheritance tax (IHT) data1, Mark Lambert, Head of Onshore Bond Distribution, Chesnara Life (UK) Ltd, said:
“The continuing rise in IHT receipts highlights the growing complexity of estate planning for advisers and the need to access the widest range of solutions possible.
“Advisers and clients are already in the countdown to changes coming in from April 2027, when unused pension benefits will start to be included within estates for IHT purposes. Combined with the ongoing freeze to the IHT thresholds until 2031, this means many families are likely to face increased exposure over the coming years.
“Many clients will need alternative solutions to pensions, and that is driving a surge in demand for the tax‑effective onshore investment bond wrapper, and associated trusts, which continue to move up the estate‑planning agenda.
“Using an onshore investment bond, particularly as a trust investment can deliver attractive tax‑deferment and tax‑management benefits and offers features such as top‑slicing relief and 5% tax‑deferred withdrawals. In addition, lifetime transfers by way of assignment without consideration are generally treated as not being taxable events for income tax purposes, subject to individual circumstances and prevailing tax rules.”
For more information, view Chesnara Life’s Estate Planning Manual here: www.Chesnaralife.co.uk/documents/estate-planning-manual
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About Chesnara Life (UK) Ltd
Chesnara Life (UK) Ltd, formerly HSBC Life (UK) Limited, is a UK subsidiary of Chesnara plc. Chesnara Life offers its open architecture Onshore Investment Bond as a stand-alone offering or through a range of third-party investment platform partners. The Chesnara Life Business Development Team supports all versions of our Bond. The Chesnara Life Onshore Investment Bond provides individual investors with access to over 4,800 funds (Investment Trusts, Open Ended Investment Companies, Unit Trusts and Exchange Traded Funds) from more than 200 Fund Managers. chesnaralife.co.uk
Chesnara Life (UK) Ltd is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA) and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA) and the Prudential Regulation Authority (“PRA”). Our Financial Services Register number is 133435 and our registered office is at: 2nd floor, 33-34 Winckley Square, Preston, Lancashire, PR1 3JJ, United Kingdom. Registered in England number 88695.
Media Contact:
CDR – Jonathan Flint – Jonathan.Flint@cdrconsultancy.com