Expenses and liabilities

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Trusts and Inheritance Tax expert
Trusts and Inheritance Tax
Guidance

Expenses and liabilities

Copyright © 2026 LexisNexis
Produced by a Tolley Trusts and Inheritance Tax expert
Trusts and Inheritance Tax
Guidance
imgtext

This guidance note discusses the expenses and liabilities that can be deducted when calculating a transfer of value for inheritance tax purposes. It discusses the general principles applicable as well as specific provisions about deductions in the Inheritance Tax Act and the anti-avoidance legislation that has restricted deductions in some cases. This note also covers which asset the deduction for the liability can be taken from and how to deal with outstanding tax liabilities.

General principles

Expenses and liabilities will reduce the value of property to be charged to inheritance tax.

The deduction of liabilities is restricted in some circumstances by anti-avoidance legislation and these are covered below.

The value of any property for inheritance tax purposes is ‘market value’. The market value of assets is reduced by liabilities.

The practical application of these general principles to the valuation of property for IHT means that, for example:

  1. •

    the value of a death estate is reduced by the deceased's outstanding personal debts such as household bills and credit cards

  2. •

    the value of a gift

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
Powered by Tolley+™
  • 11 Nov 2025 09:30

Home/ Tolley Tax Guidance/ Trusts and Inheritance Tax / Understanding the key concepts of IHT

Popular Articles

Corporation Tax

Enterprise investment scheme tax relief

Enterprise investment scheme tax reliefOverview of EIS tax reliefsThe enterprise investment scheme (EIS) offers significant tax reliefs to encourage individuals to invest money in qualifying shares issued by qualifying unquoted companies. The scheme is designed to encourage investment in small,

14 Jul 2020 11:36 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more
Employment Tax

Subsistence expenses

Subsistence expensesIntroductionSubsistence is the amount incurred as a consequence of business travel. Typically it relates to accommodation and meal costs incurred. These amounts are allowed because they are associated with the necessary travel which is not to a permanent workplace. See the Travel

14 Jul 2020 13:43 | Produced by Tolley in association with Philip Rutherford Read more Read more
Corporation Tax

Computation of corporation tax

Computation of corporation taxCompanies pay corporation tax on the taxable total profits (TTP) generated in a chargeable accounting period (CAP).To ascertain whether the entity is within the charge to corporation tax, see the Charge to corporation tax guidance note.For more information on the type

14 Jul 2020 11:16 | Produced by Tolley Read more Read more