Inheritance & Estate Planning
Trusts
Trusts are used to hold assets separately from the people who will eventually benefit from them, and different types are treated very differently for tax. These articles explain the main structures used in UK estate planning, what each one is for, and the tax treatment that follows.
Articles
Discretionary Trusts and Inheritance Tax ExplainedThis article explains what a discretionary trust is, how it is taxed under the relevant property regime, the 10-year periodic charge, exit charges, and when a discretionary trust may be useful.
Bare Trusts ExplainedThis article explains how bare trusts work, how they are taxed for inheritance tax, income tax and capital gains tax, the parental settlement rule, and how they compare with discretionary trusts.
Excluded Property Trusts ExplainedThis article explains what an excluded property trust is, how the long-term UK residence test works from April 2025, what happens when someone becomes long-term resident, and the run-off rules on leaving the UK.