Should You Give Money to Your Children Now or Leave It in Your Will?
Discover the pros and cons of lifetime gifts versus leaving an inheritance in your will, including UK inheritance tax (IHT) considerations and planning tips.
One of the most common estate-planning questions parents ask is whether they should give money to their children during their lifetimes or leave it to them through their wills.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. The right approach depends on your financial circumstances, family situation and long-term objectives.
Many parents would love to help their children financially while they are still around to see the difference it makes. Whether it’s helping with a first home, paying university fees or supporting grandchildren, giving money during your lifetime can be incredibly rewarding.
Before making significant gifts, however, it’s important to understand the IHT implications.
In this article, we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of both approaches, outline the main IHT rules and highlight some of the key factors to consider before deciding what is right for you and your family. You can also find further guidance on IHT on the GOV.UK website and within HMRC’s IHT manuals.
Why More Families Are Giving Money Earlier
With house prices remaining high, the cost of living continuing to rise and many younger people finding it harder to get onto the property ladder, more parents are choosing to help their children earlier rather than waiting until after death.
Providing financial support during your lifetime can allow your children to:
- Purchase their first home.
- Reduce mortgage borrowing.
- Pay university or private school fees.
- Start or grow a business.
- Improve their financial security.
Many parents also enjoy seeing their wealth make a positive difference while they are still alive.
However, tax considerations should always form part of the decision.
Giving Money During Your Lifetime
Lifetime gifting can be an effective estate planning strategy, but only if approached carefully.
Advantages
Some of the potential advantages include:
- You can see your children benefit from your gift.
- Some gifts may reduce the value of your estate for IHT purposes.
- Larger estates may be able to reduce future IHT liabilities if gifts qualify under the relevant rules.
- Gifts can help younger generations at a time when financial support is often needed most.
Potential Drawbacks
Before making significant gifts, ask yourself the following questions:
- Will you still have enough money for your own retirement and possible care costs?
- Could the gift affect family relationships if not all beneficiaries are treated equally?
- Are your estate planning documents still appropriate after making significant gifts?
- Have you properly considered the IHT rules?
Leaving Money in Your Will
For many families, leaving assets through a will remains the most suitable option.
Benefits
Leaving money in your will may:
- Allow you to retain full control over your assets during your lifetime.
- Provide flexibility if your financial circumstances change.
- Ensure your estate is distributed according to your wishes.
- Work alongside trusts or other estate planning arrangements where appropriate.
Having an up-to-date will is also an important part of ensuring your estate passes as intended.
Understanding the UK IHT Rules
IHT should never be the only reason for making gifts, but understanding the rules can help you make informed decisions. HMRC’s How Inheritance Tax Works provides information on the thresholds, rules and allowances.
Can I Give Money to My Children Tax-Free?
This is one of the most common questions people ask when considering lifetime gifting. The answer is that it depends on the type of gift and the IHT rules that apply.
There is no limit on how much money you can give to your children during your lifetime. However, whether the gift is immediately exempt from IHT depends on the circumstances.
Some gifts fall within specific inheritance tax exemptions, while others are treated as Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETs). The seven-year rule for PETs is explained below.
It is also important to remember that IHT is only one consideration. Depending on the asset being gifted, there may also be other tax implications, such as Capital Gains Tax, which should be considered before making significant gifts.
The Seven-Year Rule
One of the biggest tax advantages of making lifetime gifts is the potential application of the seven-year rule. Many outright gifts are treated as PETs. If you survive for seven years after making the gift, its value will generally fall outside your estate for IHT purposes.
If death occurs within seven years, some or all of the gifts may still be taken into account when calculating IHT, depending on the circumstances.
However, leaving money in your will ensures you retain control and financial security during your lifetime; the value of those assets may still form part of your taxable estate.
In broad terms, IHT is charged at 40% on the value of an estate above the available tax-free allowances. The standard nil rate band is currently £325,000 and has remained unchanged since April 2009.
How Much Can Parents Gift Their Children?
Many people assume there is a maximum amount they can give their children each year. In fact, there is no overall limit on the value of gifts you can make.
Although there is no overall limit, several IHT exemptions allow certain gifts to be made without affecting your IHT position. These include the annual exemption, wedding gift exemptions, the small gifts exemption and qualifying gifts made out of surplus income, all of which are explained below.
Larger gifts can also be made and may qualify as Potentially Exempt Transfers (PETs), which are discussed above.
Annual Gift Allowance
Individuals currently have an annual IHT exemption of £3,000. As each parent has their own exemption, a couple can usually give away up to £6,000 between them each tax year, provided the relevant conditions are met.
This allowance can be carried forward if it was not used in the previous tax year.
Several other exemptions may apply depending on the nature of the gift and your circumstances.
As IHT legislation is complex and can change, professional advice is recommended before making substantial gifts.
Wedding Gift Exemptions
The following wedding gift exemptions are also available for IHT purposes:
- Parents can gift £5,000 to a child.
- Grandparents can gift £2,500 to a grandchild.
- Everyone else is allowed to give £1,000.
If you are giving gifts to the same person, you can combine a wedding gift allowance with any other allowance, except for the small gift allowance.
Small Gift Exemption
There is also the small gift exemption of up to £250 per person each tax year that is also exempt. This is as long as you have not used another allowance on the same person.
Regular Income Gifts
One of the most valuable IHT exemptions applies to gifts made out of surplus income. There is no financial limit, provided the gifts form part of your normal expenditure, are made from income (rather than capital) and leave you with sufficient income to maintain your usual standard of living.
Keeping good records is essential. You should retain evidence showing that the gifts were made from surplus income, together with details of when each gift was made, its value and the recipient.
What Counts as a Gift
IHT applies to far more than cash gifts. Depending on the circumstances, the following may also count as gifts:
- Household and personal goods, for example, furniture, jewellery or antiques.
- Houses, land or buildings.
- Stocks and shares listed on the London Stock Exchange.
- Unlisted shares you held for less than 2 years before your death, as there are special rules for business relief.
Do My Children Pay Tax on Gifts?
In most cases, your children will not pay tax simply because they receive a gift from you.
- Cash gifts do not usually create an immediate tax liability for the recipient. However, IHT may become relevant if the gift does not qualify for an exemption and you die within seven years of making it. In some circumstances, the recipient of a gift may become liable for IHT if the available nil rate band has already been used by earlier gifts.
- Where you give away assets other than cash, such as property, shares or investments, there may also be tax implications for you as the donor. For example, Capital Gains Tax can arise even where no money changes hands.
- Taking professional advice before making significant gifts can help ensure your estate planning is both effective and tax efficient.
Which Option Is Right for You?
The decision is rarely just about tax.
Questions to consider include:
- Will you need access to the money later?
- Are all your children in similar financial positions?
- Would gifting now create unintended family issues?
- Is your estate likely to exceed available IHT allowances?
- Would trusts or other planning strategies be more appropriate?
In many cases, the most effective solution is a combination of lifetime gifting, a well-drafted will and broader IHT planning.
It is also important to remember that any IHT due on gifts is usually paid by the estate, unless you give away more than £325,000 in gifts in the 7 years before your death. Once you have given away more than £325,000, anyone who gets a gift from you in those 7 years will have to pay IHT on their gift.
Every family’s circumstances are different, which is why tailored advice is so valuable.
Tax Implications of not having a will
If you die without a valid will (known as dying intestate), your estate will be distributed according to the statutory intestacy rules rather than your personal wishes. This can produce outcomes that are very different from what you intended and may also mean valuable IHT planning opportunities are lost.
You may also find our estate planning article helpful.
How Professional Advice Can Help
Making gifts without understanding the IHT consequences can sometimes produce unexpected outcomes.
Leaving IHT planning until later in life can reduce the planning opportunities available. Some reliefs depend on actions being taken well before death, and unexpected ill health can mean valuable planning opportunities are missed.
Professional advice can help you:
- Understand which gifting exemptions may be available.
- Structure gifts tax-efficiently where appropriate.
- Review your estate planning strategy.
- Consider whether trusts or other planning arrangements may be suitable.
- Ensure your IHT planning is in place and effective before you speak to a solicitor to include it within your will.
At ETC Tax, our specialists help individuals and families understand the UK tax implications of estate planning and lifetime gifting so they can make informed decisions.
FAQs
Is it better to give money to my children while I’m alive?
It depends on your financial circumstances and objectives. Lifetime gifts can provide immediate support and may reduce the value of your estate for IHT purposes, but they should only be made after considering your own future financial needs.
How much money can I give my children tax-free in the UK?
Several IHT exemptions may apply, including the annual gift exemption and certain other exemptions. Larger gifts may also fall outside your estate if the relevant IHT conditions are met.
What is the seven-year rule?
Many lifetime gifts are PETs. If you survive for seven years after making the gift, it may no longer be included within your estate for IHT purposes.
Will my children pay tax on money I give them?
In most cases, receiving a gift does not create an immediate tax liability for your children. However, IHT can sometimes arise depending on the nature of the gift, when it was made and the circumstances at the date of death.
Can I still use the money after giving it away?
If you continue to benefit from assets you’ve given away, different IHT rules may apply, and the asset may not fall out of your estate for IHT purposes. Depending on the circumstances, you may have other tax consequences arising.
Professional advice is recommended before making significant gifts while retaining any benefit.
Should I update my will after making large gifts?
Yes. Significant lifetime gifts can affect how your estate is distributed and may mean your will should be reviewed to ensure it still reflects your wishes.
Are keeping records important?
Yes. Good record-keeping can make administering your estate much easier for your executors. Records should include what was gifted, who received it, when it was given and its value at the date of the gift.
How can I gift/leave money or assets to my children to make sure they receive them if my spouse remarries?
This is a common concern, particularly where individuals want to ensure that their children ultimately inherit part or all of their estate, while still providing for a surviving spouse.
If assets are left outright to your spouse, they will generally become your spouse’s property. This means that if your spouse later remarries, changes their will, or their circumstances change, there is no guarantee that those assets will eventually pass to your children.
There are a number of estate planning options that may help address this, depending on your personal circumstances. For example, some individuals consider including trusts within their will, such as a life interest trust, which can allow a surviving spouse to benefit from certain assets during their lifetime while helping to preserve the underlying capital for their children.
Other options may also be appropriate depending on the nature of your assets, your family situation and your objectives.
The most suitable approach will depend on factors such as whether this is a first or second marriage, the value and composition of your estate, and your wider IHT planning.
At ETC Tax, our specialists can help with queries in relation to trust planning.
Do I need professional IHT advice?
IHT legislation is complex, and every family’s circumstances are different. Professional advice can help ensure gifts and estate planning are structured appropriately.
Need Advice on Estate Planning or IHT?
If you are considering making lifetime gifts or reviewing your inheritance tax planning, our specialist advisers can help you understand the options available and ensure your plans are structured as tax-efficiently as possible. Please contact ETC Tax for any advice.