Business Property Relief (BPR) has been a vital part of estate and succession planning for business owners for decades. But as of next year, the rules are changing and if your clients aren’t prepared, these new rules could land their families with significant (but avoidable) Inheritance Tax (IHT) bills.
For clients with no Will or even just a basic one, the risk is particularly high.
This is where your guidance as an accountant, mortgage adviser or financial adviser, is truly critical.
What’s Changing?
Until now, qualifying business assets could receive 100% relief from IHT, allowing families to pass down businesses intact. But under the incoming changes:
- Only the first £1 million of business assets will qualify for 100% relief.
- The value above £1 million will receive just 50% relief, meaning a 20% IHT liability on that excess.
For many clients, this could mean £200,000+ in new tax liabilities, especially where estates include valuable business interests, family companies, or land and agricultural assets.
Why Wills Are Vital
These changes are not just a tax issue. They’re a planning issue. And for many clients, the Will is the missing piece.
As their adviser, here’s why now is the time to revisit your clients’ Wills:
- Basic Wills Miss the Mark
Many couples still have simple “everything to my spouse” Wills, which do nothing to anticipate or mitigate the BPR changes. Worse, spousal BPR isn’t transferable, so the issue is compounded at second death, potentially doubling the tax exposure.
In real terms, a couple with £3 million in business assets and basic mirror Wills could see their family face £400,000 in IHT that could otherwise have been mitigated.
- Clients With No Will Have No Strategy
Clients without a Will, will have their estate distributed according to intestacy laws meaning no tax strategy, no trust planning, no gifting provisions, and no alignment with their business succession wishes.
A Will is not just about distributing assets. It’s the vehicle for delivering a strategy.
- Trust Planning Is Under Pressure
The government’s reforms also look likely to affect how trusts are aggregated and assessed for tax. So, even for clients who have done some planning, there’s a risk their current structure won’t hold up under the new regime.
Coordinated, compliant trust planning will require forward-thinking legal advice and the Will is central to that.
- Timing Matters for Gifting
Strategic gifting of business interests or shares can still be a powerful tool but the window to act is closing. Gifts made before the new rules take effect in April 2026 may help reduce exposure. But they must be part of a broader plan and backed by the right documentation.
What Professional Partners Can Do Now
You are the first line of defence. You already have the trust of your clients. Now is the time to bring these conversations to the table and make sure the right people are involved.
At Secure Inheritance, we collaborate closely with accountants, financial planners, and solicitors to help clients:
✅ Understand their exposure under the new BPR rules
✅ Review or create Wills that reflect the updated landscape
✅ Implement trust, gifting, and succession strategies that actually work
✅ Educate clients—without overwhelming them
The Next 12 Months Are Critical
With just over a year before the new BPR cap kicks in, clients need joined-up advice, not just tax mitigation in isolation, but a full estate strategy that ties together personal, financial, and business priorities.
Let’s work together to ensure clients don’t just protect their wealth, but preserve the intention behind it.
Refer a Client or Book a Collaboration Call
Whether you have clients with no Will, outdated mirror Wills, or complex business structures, we’re here to help review their planning and bring clarity before it’s too late.
- Book a strategic review call with Secure Inheritance
- Or refer a client directly, and we’ll take care of the rest—with full transparency and collaboration.
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