A valuable exemption from inheritance tax (IHT) applies to gifts out of surplus income. This exemption applies only to lifetime gifts and is therefore a key part of lifetime planning. The exemption applies to both outright gifts and gifts into trust.

Gifts which meet the qualifying conditions (see below) are immediately exempt from IHT, so it is not necessary to survive seven years to obtain the exemption. Exempt gifts are not aggregated with later gifts and do not eat into the IHT nil rate band. Clients should make use of basic exemptions such as this before embarking on more complex lifetime planning.

There is no set limit on the amount that can be given away, provided the gift does not exceed the donor’s surplus income.