Outright gifts

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by Tolley in association with Emma Haley at Boodle Hatfield LLP
Trusts and Inheritance Tax
Guidance

Outright gifts

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by Tolley in association with Emma Haley at Boodle Hatfield LLP
Trusts and Inheritance Tax
Guidance
imgtext

An outright gift is the most straightforward type of gift. It simply involves the outright transfer of property from one person to another with no conditions attached.

This type of gift is most suitable for clients who want to pass over modest amounts, or give to responsible and capable adults whom they trust to take the property as their own, to do with as they wish.

Outright gifts are less suitable for children and vulnerable people, or for assets over which the client wishes to retain some control. In those cases, a gift into trust will be more appropriate than an outright gift. However, trusts come at a cost and with an administrative burden. Therefore, outright gifts are extremely common. See the Why people use trusts guidance note for an introduction to the trusts regime.

This guidance note focuses on inheritance tax (IHT), but other taxes are mentioned briefly for completeness.

Inheritance tax (IHT)

IHT is not strictly a charge on gifts but is based instead on the concept of a

Continue reading the full document
To gain access to additional expert tax guidance, workflow tools, generative tax AI, and tax research, register for a free trial of Tolley+™
TAKE A FREE TRIAL NOW
Emma Haley
Emma Haley linkedinicon twittericon worldicon

Associate at Boodle Hatfield LLP 

Emma Haley is a senior associate solicitor at leading private client firm, Boodle Hatfield LLP, renowned for providing first-class and practical legal advice to wealthy clients around the world.Emma has many years experience in dealing with all aspects of wills, probate, capital taxation and succession planning as well as UK and offshore trusts. Emma currently heads up a technical know-how team and is a regular writer and lecturer on estate planning and inheritance tax and also a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.

Read moreRead more
Powered by Tolley+™
  • 26 Nov 2025 11:30

Home/ Tolley Tax Guidance/ Trusts and Inheritance Tax / IHT planning

Popular Articles

Value Added Tax

Supplies of goods and services connected with education

Supplies of goods and services connected with educationThis guidance note provides an overview of the VAT treatment of goods and services provided in connection with supplies of education. This should be read in conjunction with the following guidance notes:•Supplies of education•Local authority

14 Jul 2020 13:44 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Corporation Tax

Temporary differences

Temporary differencesCalculation of temporary differencesThe temporary difference arising in respect of an asset or liability is calculated by comparing the carrying value of that asset or liability with its tax base.IAS 12 uses the concept of taxable or deductible temporary differences. Whether a

14 Jul 2020 13:49 | Produced by Tolley in association with Steve Collings Read more Read more
Owner-Managed Businesses

Interest on late paid tax

Interest on late paid taxIntroductionInterest on late paid tax is a compulsory charge set out in legislation to reflect the interest which would have accrued to the Exchequer had the correct amount of tax been paid at the right time.Harmonised legislation was introduced in 2009 to:•set statutory

14 Jul 2020 12:00 | Produced by Tolley in association with Philip Rutherford Read more Read more