Family Law News

A thinktank has proposed that inheritance tax should be scrapped after finding that opposition to the levy from across the political spectrum means it is simply “too toxic” to save.

The suggestions come from the Fabian Society said that the evidence they had collected following the General Election suggested that many voters, regardless of political allegiance were equally opposed to inheritance tax. Research shows that many of those questioned believed that such a tax was unfair and instead called for the current rules to be replaced by the levying of income tax on gifts and bequests.

General secretary of the Fabian Society, Andrew Harrop said that the results of an across the board opposition to inheritance tax were surprising. He said: “The public see the value of the tax system, and they want it to be fairer, simpler and more progressive.

“But some taxes are now beyond the pale, even for people who are supportive of progressive measures. Inheritance tax is seen as unfair and insensitive even by left-leaning voters, and has become too toxic to save.”

Harrop also added that he believed that levying income tax on those receiving inheritances would be a good alternative to inheritance tax. Currently under Government reforms pensions can be inherited but those benefiting have to pay income tax.

A woman who was left out of her mother’s will has been awarded £164,000 after she took the case to the Court of Appeal in what many are deeming a landmark case.

Heather Ilott took legal action after she was left out of her mother’s will who left her £486,000 estate to a number of animal charities rather than her only daughter. Melita Jackson who died in 2004 had little connection to these charities but did not leave a penny to her only daughter after they had fallen out when Mrs Ilott had eloped at the age of 17.