Inheritance tax planning service in Reading, Caversham you can trust
Inheritance tax isn’t really about the very wealthy anymore. Rising house prices across Reading and Caversham mean more ordinary families are finding themselves within reach of a 40% tax bill on the things they’ve worked hard for – often without realising it until it’s too late to do much about it.
The good news is that inheritance tax planning isn’t one single product. It’s a combination of the right Will, the right use of trusts, and the right gifting and lifetime planning – all working together. That’s exactly what we do, face to face, from our Caversham office.
Is inheritance tax something you need to think about?
A quick way to check: add up your home, savings, investments, and any other assets, then take off any debts and your mortgage. As an individual, the first £325,000 is currently tax-free (the “nil-rate band”), with a further £175,000 available if you’re leaving your home to children or grandchildren – taking your tax-free allowance up to £500,000. For married couples and civil partners, that can rise to £1 million between you.
Sounds like a lot – until you remember these thresholds have barely moved in over a decade, while property values in this part of Berkshire have climbed steadily. It’s a quiet shift, not a dramatic one, but it means a great many local families who’d never have thought of themselves as “wealthy” are now sitting above the threshold without knowing it.
Anything above your available allowance is normally taxed at 40%. The relief is that, with some planning – and enough time – a good deal of that can legitimately be avoided or reduced.
Why this isn't a one-product problem
We’re often asked for “a trust” or “a Will that avoids inheritance tax.” In reality, effective inheritance tax planning usually draws on several tools together, depending on your circumstances:
- Your Will — how assets are structured and left can make a significant difference to what’s taxable, particularly for married couples and those with property to pass to children.
- Trusts — used well, trusts can remove assets from your estate, protect them for future generations, and give you control over how and when beneficiaries benefit.
- Lifetime gifting — structured properly, gifts made during your lifetime can fall outside your estate altogether after seven years, or immediately in some cases.
- Lasting Powers of Attorney — not a tax tool in itself, but part of a complete plan, so that if you lose capacity before your estate planning is finished, someone you trust can continue to manage things sensibly on your behalf.
We look at all of these together rather than selling you one in isolation — because inheritance tax planning done well is joined-up, not piecemeal.
How we approach it
Unlike an online-only service, you’ll sit down with someone local, in person, who takes the time to understand your family and your assets before recommending anything.
Free, no-obligation consultation
– at our Caversham office, or we can come to you. No charge, no pressure, no sales pitch — just an honest look at where you currently stand.
A clear picture of your position
– we’ll explain, in plain English, whether inheritance tax is likely to affect your estate, and by roughly how much.
A tailored plan
– drawing on Wills, trusts, and gifting strategies as appropriate, built around what matters to you and your family, not a one-size-fits-all package.
Local, face to face, in Caversham
We’re a local business, not a call centre or an online form. Templar has been helping families across Reading, Caversham, and the surrounding villages plan for the future in person, and we think that matters when the subject is this personal. You can talk things through properly, ask the questions you’re embarrassed to put in an email, and come back and see the same person again.
Frequently asked questions
Do I definitely have to pay inheritance tax? Not necessarily – most estates don’t. Whether you do depends on the total value of everything you own, who you’re leaving it to, and how your affairs are structured. That’s exactly what a free consultation will tell you.
Can a Will alone reduce inheritance tax? Sometimes, yes – particularly for married couples, where careful wording can make sure both partners’ allowances are used in full. On its own, though, a Will is rarely the whole answer.
What’s the difference between a trust and a Will for this purpose? A Will directs how your estate is distributed after death. A trust can, in the right circumstances, remove assets from your estate altogether during your lifetime, which a Will cannot do. Which is appropriate, if either, depends on your situation.
How much does a consultation cost? Nothing. Your first consultation is free and there’s no obligation to proceed afterwards.
I think it might already be too late to plan properly – is it worth talking to you anyway? Almost always, yes. Even later-stage planning can usually reduce a tax bill; it’s rarely all-or-nothing.
Our video helps to explain IHT
Ready to put your affairs in order?
Book a free, no-obligation consultation with our Caversham team today.
“David did some work for me recently and his advice was invaluable with a very positive outcome. He is knowledgeable, professional, and approachable. I wouldn’t hesitate to use him again and recommend him highly. “
Our other services
Will Writing
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Trust Establishment
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Lasting Powers of Attorney
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Professional Executor Service
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Excellent service, we would recommend David and Templar estate planning
