United Kingdom: Tax

UK trust taxation presents complex challenges for international advisers, particularly with recent changes to inheritance tax rules and the introduction of the Foreign Income and Gains regime.

When someone dies, their estate may be subject to inheritance tax. The rules include allowances that can significantly reduce, or even eliminate, the tax due. For married couples and civil partners, those allowances can be more generous than many people expect.

The UK's trust environment has evolved significantly over the past two decades, with increasingly complex reporting requirements and tax legislation transforming what was once straightforward wealth preservation into a compliance-intensive undertaking. Modern trustees face challenges ranging from HMRC enquiries and beneficiary disputes to mandatory Trust Registration Service declarations and international reporting obligations under CRS and FATCA. Proper administration from the outset can mean the differenc