AUTUMN BUDGET 2021
Chancellor Rishi Sunak presented his third Budget on 27 October 2021. In his speech, he set out the plans to “build back better” with ambitions to level up and reduce regional inequality.
How does the budget affect people who are dealing with probate?
Inheritance tax (IHT) nil rate bands
The nil rate band has been frozen at £325,000 since 2009 and this will now continue up to 5 April 2026. An additional nil rate band called the ‘residence nil rate band’ (RNRB) is also frozen at the current £175,000 level until 5 April 2026. A taper reduces the amount of the RNRB by £1 for every £2 that the ‘net’ value of the death estate is more than £2 million. Net value is after deducting
permitted liabilities but before exemptions and reliefs. This taper will also be maintained at the current level.
Capital gains tax (CGT) rates
No changes to the current rates of CGT have been announced. This means that the rate remains at 10%, to the extent that any
income tax basic rate band is available, and 20% thereafter. Higher rates of 18% and 28% apply for certain gains, mainly chargeable gains on residential properties, with the exception of any element that qualifies for Private Residence Relief. There is still potential to qualify for a 10% rate, regardless of the available income tax basic rate band, up to a lifetime limit
for each individual. This is where specific types of disposals
qualify for:
• Business Asset Disposal Relief (BADR). This is targeted at directors and employees who own at least 5% of the ordinary share capital in the company provided other minimum criteria are also met. It can also apply to owners of unincorporated businesses.
• Investors’ Relief. The main beneficiaries of this relief are investors in unquoted trading companies who have newly subscribed shares but are not employees.
Current lifetime limits are £1 million for BADR and £10 million for Investors’ Relief
CGT annual exemption
The CGT annual exemption will be maintained at the current level of £12,300 for 2022/23 and up to and including 2025/26.
CGT reporting and payment following a property disposal.
UK resident individuals who dispose of UK residential property are sometimes required to deliver a CGT return to HMRC and make a payment on account of CGT within 30 days of completion of the property disposal. Broadly, this only applies where the property disposal gives rise to a CGT liability and as such usually excludes the disposal of a property to which private residence relief applies.
Non-UK residents are subject to similar deadlines in respect of the disposal of all types of UK land and property.
In both cases, for disposals that are complete on or after 27 October 2021, the reporting and payment deadline is extended to 60 days following the completion of the disposal.
