The Chancellor’s Spring Statement on 4 March 2026 confirmed several key points regarding inheritance tax (IHT).
The personal allowance remains at £325,000 and has not changed since 2009. The government will keep this allowance frozen until 2031.
The residential nil rate band (RNRB) of £175,000 will also remain frozen until 2031.
What Does This Mean?
Between 2009 and 2026, inflation reached approximately 74.12%. If the IHT personal allowance had kept pace with inflation, the allowance would now be around £565,890 rather than the current £325,000.
The allowance will stay frozen until 5 April 2031. Our calculations assume an average CPI inflation rate of around 3% per year until 2031. At that rate, the allowance would need to double by that time to keep pace with inflation.
Put another way, by 2031 the real value of the IHT personal allowance will have halved since 2009.
Residential Nil Rate Band
Inheritance tax allowance UK: The inheritance tax residential nil rate band (RNRB) has been frozen since 2020.
If the RNRB had kept pace with inflation since 2020, it would now be approximately £224,525 when adjusted for CPI inflation. If inflation averages 3% between 2026 and 2031, the RNRB would need to reach around £260,000 by 2031 to maintain its real value.
International Comparison
Several European countries do not apply inheritance tax, including Portugal and Sweden.
Australia and New Zealand also do not have inheritance tax. In the Middle East, most countries do not apply inheritance tax either, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Singapore, Canada and Mexico are also notable examples of countries without inheritance tax.
Planning Ahead
As inheritance tax allowance UK remain frozen, more estates may gradually fall within the scope of IHT over time. This makes estate planning increasingly important for families and individuals who want to protect their assets and plan for the future.
If you would like advice on inheritance tax planning or estate structuring, the team at Oracle Law can help you understand your options.