⚠️ Big changes are coming for business owners
From 6 April 2026, the UK’s Inheritance Tax (IHT) system is being rewritten.
The long-standing 100 % Business Relief that has protected trading companies for decades is being capped:
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✅ First £1 million of business value → 100 % relief
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⚠️ Anything above → only 50 % relief
That means for many successful entrepreneurs, an extra £1 million – £1.5 million in tax due on death.
If you’ve spent years building your business, this change could be the single most expensive piece of legislation you’ll ever face.
The good news – you still have time to act
Between now and 5 April 2026, you can still use the current rules to “bank” the full 100 % relief.
By transferring some or all of your trading company into a properly structured discretionary trust or family succession plan, you can:
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Remove business value from your taxable estate
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Keep control as a trustee or director
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Avoid any immediate IHT or CGT charge (using available reliefs)
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Protect future growth from tax forever
What this means in numbers
Here are the saving based on a business valued at £6m
| Scenario | IHT payable on death | Potential tax saving |
|---|---|---|
| No planning (after 2026) | £ 1.36 million | – |
| Partial planning (£2 m transfer) | £ 0.96 million | £ 0.40 million |
| Full planning (£6 m transfer) | £ 0.36 million | £ 1 million + |
Typical setup cost: £10 000 – £20 000
Average saving: £400 000 – £1 360 000
✅ Return on cost: over 6 000 %
What we’ll do for you
At Seagrave French we make this simple, safe, and compliant:
1️⃣ Review your business structure and confirm eligibility for relief
2️⃣ Prepare formal valuation evidence
3️⃣ Design the most tax-efficient trust or ownership model
4️⃣ Coordinate legal drafting with our trusted solicitors
5️⃣ Handle HMRC filings and hold-over relief elections
6️⃣ Update your will to match the new ownership plan
Everything explained in plain English – no jargon, no sleepless nights.
A personal word from Jason
“I’ve been an accountant for more than 35 years.
I’ve seen every tax change under the sun – but this one is huge.
The good news is, we can still get ahead of it. Act before April 2026 and you could save your family over a million pounds in tax.
My job is to make sure you sleep soundly knowing your life’s work stays in your family, not in the Treasury.”
— Jason Seagrave, Founder & Principal, Seagrave French LLP
Book your confidential review
This 60-minute strategy session will:
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Explain how the 2026 rules affect you
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Estimate your potential saving
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Outline your options to lock in full relief before it’s too late
Book now: https://tinyurl.com/rne9mmec 0115 941 5193 ✉️ jason@seagravefrenchbaa.com
Why Seagrave French
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Accountants and Business Advisers with decades of IHT and succession expertise
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Specialists in family-owned and trading companies
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Friendly, practical, and proactive — we help you understand, not just comply
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Proudly helping clients sleep soundly since 2015
