Inheritance Tax is due on personal assets above £325,000, rising to £500,000 if you leave your home to children or grandchildren. These thresholds are frozen until at least April 2030, which makes planning vital. Based in Poole and serving clients across the UK, Clark Jamison provides clear, strategic and personalised advice on agricultural and business property relief, estate valuation, gifting, Trusts, Family Investment Companies, residence nil rate band planning, charitable donations, pension structuring, and Will alignment for UK residents, non-UK residents and those formerly designated as non-domiciles. Begin with a confidential chat today.
Who We Help
We support individuals and families who want to protect their wealth and simplify inheritance for loved ones:
- Families leaving property or savings to children or grandchildren
- Business owners and farmers needing specialist advice. For business strategy advice and consultation, view our business consulting services.
- Individuals with significant pension assets worried about future tax changes
- Executors and trustees seeking accurate valuations and HMRC compliance
How We Can Help
- Lifetime Gifting
- Trust Planning
- Family Investment Companies
- Family Home Relief
- Charitable Legacies
- Business and Agricultural Relief
- Pensions and Estate Planning
- Will and Executor Support
- Planning for Second Marriages and Blended Families
- Deeds of Variation
Lifetime Gifting
We can advise on gifting money or assets during your lifetime to reduce the value of your estate. Exempt allowances apply each year — £3,000 per tax year, plus smaller family and wedding gift exemptions — though with careful planning, much larger annual ‘gifts out of income’ can escape IHT, even if death occurs within seven years. We analyse timing, documentation and the nature of the gifts to ensure effectiveness.
Trust Planning
A trust lets you pass on assets while keeping control over when and how beneficiaries access them. Despite periodic charges, trusts are powerful tools for families. We assess whether a trust suits your objectives, choose the right type, and manage trust charges effectively.
Family Investment Companies
A Family Investment Company is an alternative to a family trust. The main purpose of a Family Investment Company is to pass wealth on to the next generation, free of Inheritance Tax (IHT), within a company structure. Where absolute discretion is preferred, an ‘unlimited’ company may be preferred, which comes without the obligation to file publicly available accounts
Family Home Relief
Leaving your home to direct descendants can unlock the residence nil-rate band, currently worth £175,000 per person. Combined with the £325,000 allowance, married couples may pass up to £1 million tax-free. The allowance tapers only for estates valued over £2 million. Clark Jamison ensures your estate planning fully utilises these reliefs.
Charitable Legacies
Including charity in your Will not only supports a cause but can reduce the inheritance tax rate from 40 per cent to 36 per cent — provided at least 10 per cent of your net estate is gifted. We recommend wording that satisfies HMRC conditions and hence maximise the tax savings available.
Business and Agricultural Relief
Business Property Relief and Agricultural Property Relief can offer up to 100 per cent exemption for eligible assets though these have been hit by the recent ‘Farmers Tax’. Upcoming changes may cap relief at £1 million, however with careful and swift action, these tax grabs can be avoided entirely. We help establish qualifying status, review business structure, and ensure continued eligibility under future rules.
Pensions and Estate Planning
Pension assets generally fall outside your estate. However, from April 2027, unused pensions may be considered taxable assets. Clark Jamison evaluates your pension pots and other plans to ensure your beneficiaries are protected and your wider tax strategy remains intact.
Will and Executor Support
A valid Will is essential to ensure tax planning holds. We review or assist with drafting Wills so they align with your IHT strategy. We also work with executors to produce accurate valuations, file submissions with HMRC, and manage liabilities efficiently.
Planning for Second Marriages and Blended Families
Inheritance tax planning becomes more complex when children from previous relationships are involved. We help structure Wills, Trusts and asset distribution to ensure all intended beneficiaries are protected and tax reliefs are preserved.
Deeds of Variation
Beneficiaries can amend the distribution of an estate after death, within two years, to optimise for tax across multiple generations or family fairness. We advise families on when and how best to use Deeds of Variation which can significantly reduce future Inheritance Taxes.
How It Works
We start with a full assessment of your current circumstances and goals. From there, we draft a report detailing recommended strategies and potential tax savings. Once approved, we assist with its implementation. Our service includes an annual review to ensure the plan stays aligned with your estate’s value, ever changing tax law and personal circumstances.
Speak to an advisor today.
Inheritance Tax Advice in Poole and Bournemouth
While we work with clients across the UK, Clark Jamison is proud to serve individuals and families in Poole, Bournemouth and the surrounding Dorset area. With our office based in Poole, we understand the property values, family dynamics and financial considerations specific to Dorset.
Whether you’re based in Sandbanks with significant property wealth or managing a large rural estate, we offer clear, considered advice and significant tax savings. We invite you to a face-to-face meeting at our Poole office, and also offer phone and video conferencing.
Arrange a consultation with one of our expert inheritance tax advisors today.
Why Trust Clark Jamison?
Clark Jamison are Chartered Accountants with over a decade of experience advising individuals and families on complex inheritance tax matters. We are FCA regulated, fully insured, and committed to the highest standards of professional integrity.
Clients consistently rate us five stars, praising our clarity, discretion and results-driven approach. We take pride in simplifying complex tax issues and offering practical solutions that work for real families.
Our advice can help:
- Save thousands in unnecessary tax
- Structure gifts and trusts to protect future generations
- Ensure your estate passes to the right people, at the right time
- Avoid delays and disputes through clear, compliant planning
For official guidance on thresholds and tax due dates, visit GOV.UK’s Inheritance Tax overview.
If you’d like a personal strategy tailored to your family, speak to our team today.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
Every asset forms part of your estate: property, savings, investments, business interests and any gifts made in the seven years before death. Debts and certain expenses, such as probate and funeral costs, are deducted from the estate value.
-
Common strategies include utilising annual gift allowances, setting up trusts, leaving a charitable legacy, applying property or business reliefs, and planning pension withdrawals. Each requires careful planning to be effective.
-
A gift given during your lifetime becomes fully tax-free if you survive seven years after making it. If death occurs sooner, taper relief may reduce the IHT payable on the gift value.
-
Your estate will be distributed according to intestacy rules, which may not match your wishes. Executors face delays in securing probate and in transferring reliefs, potentially increasing your estate’s tax liability.
-
Inheritance Tax must be paid by the end of the sixth month after the person died. For example, if someone dies on 10 January, the tax is due by 31 July to avoid interest.
(Reference: GOV.UK — “You must pay Inheritance Tax by the end of the sixth month after the person died.”) https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax