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This guide answers common questions about gifts on the Inheritance Tax 'Return of Estate Information' forms IHT205 and C5.
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The ‘chargeable value’ of a gift is the value of the gift after you’ve deducted any exemptions such as for:
For example if the deceased made a single cash gift of £7,000 to someone, the chargeable value of that gift is £4,000. This is the total after deducting the annual Inheritance Tax exemption of £3,000 for gifts.
You can also carry over unused exemption from the previous tax year if the deceased's current year’s exemption has been used up.
On an excepted estate where there is no Inheritance Tax to pay, the phrase ‘chargeable value’ can be confusing. Although you have to enter the chargeable value of all gifts on the form, there will usually be no Inheritance Tax to pay on those gifts.
Find out what gifts are exempt from Inheritance Tax
A 'specified transfer' is an outright gift (not into a trust) that the deceased made during their lifetime. They are also known as a 'lifetime gift' or a 'lifetime transfer.' They must be one of the following:
Most gifts are specified transfers.
However, if the deceased made a gift to someone of, say unlisted shares this wouldn't be a specified transfer and their estate wouldn't be an excepted estate. In this case, you’d have to fill in a full Inheritance Tax account - form IHT400 - even if the estate is unlikely to owe Inheritance Tax.
Get form IHT400 - Inheritance Tax Account
This question is relevant if the deceased made a gift of say, their home or car to someone but continued to benefit from it. For example, if they gave their home to their children but continued to live in it without paying a full market rent. This would be considered a 'gift with reservation of benefit' and the estate therefore wouldn't be an excepted estate.
Read more about gifts you still benefit from in our guide to passing on your home
Download the IHT206 guidance notes for form IHT205 (PDF 535K)
Download the C3 guidance notes for form C5 (PDF 75K)
How to work out the Inheritance Tax due on gifts when someone dies
