# Remember A Charity calls on Government to consider impact of abolishing IHT on legacy giving

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2023/07/28/remember-a-charity-calls-on-government-to-consider-impact-of-abolishing-iht-on-legacy-giving/
- Published: 2023-07-28T09:45:00+01:00
- Author: Melanie May

**With MPs seeking to abolish Inheritance Tax, Remember A Charity is calling on 
the Government to consider the impact doing so could have on legacy giving.**

Over 50 MPs have called for Inheritance Tax (IHT) to be abolished, with the Government
reportedly considering including the proposal in the Conservative manifesto. However,
with the current IHT framework incentivising legacy giving, [Remember A Charity](https://www.rememberacharity.org.uk/)
wants government and policymakers to consult with the sector and ensure that legacy
income will be protected. 

## Advertisement

 [⌊Posthub advert. You create the campaign. We'll handle the postal journey. Get started at post-hub.co.uk.⌉](https://fundraising.co.uk/ads/posthub-20261007-300x250/)

Lucinda Frostick, Director of Remember A Charity, said:

> “Any change to Inheritance Tax that fails to consider the likely impact on legacy
> giving and just how vital this income stream is for UK charities would be of great
> concern to us at Remember A Charity.
> ** **
> “Legacy giving has become a lifeline for thousands of charities and community-
> based organisations, building resilience and long-term income that has proved 
> crucial in the current economic climate.
>  
> “As a representative body for 200 charities that rely on legacy income, we will
> be urging government and policymakers to consult with us and the wider sector 
> to explore the likely impact on charities of proposed changes, ensuing that legacy
> income will be protected.”

#### IHT explained

Gifts to charities in Wills are exempt from inheritance tax, and if someone gives
more than 10% of their estate to charity, they benefit from a discounted inheritance
tax rate of 36% across the remainder of their estate.

IHT impacts less than 4% of deaths, but estates paying IHT account for around one
quarter of all charitable estates and half of legacy income donated. Over a third(
36%) of estates above the threshold include a charitable gift and one in four of
those charitable estates include donations of 10% or more, so qualifying for the
reduced IHT rate.

Legacy giving is also around six times more prevalent for IHT estates – 36% vs 6%,
according to figures from [HMRC](https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/inheritance-tax-statistics-commentary/inheritance-tax-statistics-commentary#liable-estates-and-average-tax-paid)
and [Smee & Ford](https://smeeandford.com/reports-whitepapers/2023-smee-ford-legacy-trends-report/).

Remember A Charity is working with the Chartered Institute of Fundraising and other
sector bodies to build up evidence on the importance of the IHT incentive and to
develop a collaborative response to the Government. 

 * **[CAF urges people to remember to claim Gift Aid relief as Self-Assessment deadline looms](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/01/16/caf-urges-people-to-remember-to-claim-gift-aid-relief-as-self-assessment-deadline-looms/)**(
   16 January 2024)
 * **[Tax reliefs for charities & donors rise 3% YOY with Gift Aid remaining steady](https://fundraising.co.uk/2024/07/31/tax-reliefs-for-charities-donors-rise-3-yoy-with-gift-aid-remaining-steady/)**(
   31 July 2024)
 * **[Awareness of tax relief on donations low among higher & additional rate taxpayers, warns CAF](https://fundraising.co.uk/2025/01/16/awareness-of-tax-relief-on-donations-low-among-higher-additional-rate-taxpayers-warns-caf/)**(
   16 January 2025)
