Royal London urges HMRC to extend executors' IHT bill deadline

On 'complex' estates

Victoria McKeever
clock • 3 min read

Royal London has called on HMRC to grant people more time to settle inheritance tax (IHT) bills, after finding executors of larger, more complex estates risk having to pay these out of their own pocket.

The provider's warning is based on research conducted into the financial issues that arise after someone dies. It called for HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) to allow people more time to pay IHT bills where more complex estates are being wound up.  Currently, IHT must be paid by the end of the sixth month after death. Royal London said, however, the complexity of the process and the assets contained in many - particularly larger - estates, means they are unlikely to be sold in time to meet this bill.   If the estate's assets cannot be sold by the time the IHT bill arrives, executors must f...

To continue reading this article...

Join Professional Adviser for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, industry insights and market intelligence
  • Stay ahead of the curve with spotlights on emerging trends and technologies
  • Receive breaking news stories straight to your inbox in the daily newsletters
  • Make smart business decisions with the latest developments in regulation, investing retirement and protection
  • Members-only access to the editor’s weekly Friday commentary
  • Be the first to hear about our events and awards programmes

Join

 

Already a Professional Adviser member?

Login

More on Tax planning

Why advice matters more than ever as wealth transfers accelerate and tax rules shift

Why advice matters more than ever as wealth transfers accelerate and tax rules shift

'Mistakes and misunderstandings can be costly'

Martin Parish
clock 13 November 2026 • 4 min read
Why cross-border financial planning is like puzzle-solving

Why cross-border financial planning is like puzzle-solving

'Financial planning isn't about chasing returns. It's about how everything fits together'

Matt Byrne
clock 12 November 2026 • 5 min read
Pension IHT reform: Awareness is not the same as readiness

Pension IHT reform: Awareness is not the same as readiness

'Quite a few firms seem to be caught somewhere between awareness and implementation'

Jamie Ponting
clock 11 November 2026 • 7 min read