It has to be said that life insurance as a solution for inheritance tax planning is the place of last resort.
A lot of advisers fail to point that out owing to the fact that they get commission for selling life insurance and the fact that a lot of financial advisers lack the experience in the IHT market to actually solve the problem without re4esorting to life cover.
That said there is still a place for life cover but only, as I have said, as a last resort.
This site and all our advisers will aim to mitigate the majority of IHT liability but when all that can be done has been done there is still the option of just covering the liability left and that will then pay of the tax when due, ensuring that the estate remains intact for your beneficiaries.
There are essentially two types of life insurance policies associated with inheritance tax planning:
Policy type one – Gift inter Vivos
This policy is designed to cover the tax liability associated with PETs potentially exempt transfers (The 7 year rule). This policy is designed to reduce at exactly the same rate as the tax reduces after the PET has been made. So there is a 100% cover years 0 to 3, 80% year 3 to 4, 60% year 4 to 5, 40% year 5 to 6, and then 20% cover year 6 to 7.
The second and far more common type is standard life cover
Standard life insurance is ideally written on a whole of life basis but if cost is an issue you can take out a long term, term insurance plan. The only problem with the latter is the plan will finish at some point in the future and if that is before death you will not have any life insurance and no cover to repay the IHT bill on death. So you can see that the whole of life insurance plan is by far the best option.
When arranging any life insurance for IHT coverage you need to establish the level of the IHT liability and aim to have cover at that level. It is always worth considering indexing the sum assured to ensure the value of the cover rises with inflation as the likelihood in most cases the estate itself will also rise with inflation and in turn the IHT bill itself.
YOUR TEAM
Educated at St Colman’s College in Newry, Kevin graduated from University College Dublin in 1982 with a degree in Law (BCL).
He graduated from Queen’s University Belfast with a Certificate of Professional Legal Studies in 1984 and was admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in Northern Ireland in 1984. He was later admitted to the Roll of Solicitors in the Republic of Ireland in 1992, as well as in England and Wales in 2008. He qualified as a Solicitor Advocate in 2013. He is also a certified Mediator.
Kevin has worked at Donnelly Neary & Donnelly since he was admitted to the Roll in 1984 and has been a partner in the firm since 1988.
Kevin is a Notary Public, and is currently the President of the College of Notaries in Northern Ireland. He is also a Trusts and Estates Practitioner (TEP) of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP) and a member of the NI Commercial Property Lawyers Association. Kevin currently acts as Treasurer for the Irish Legal History Society and is Deputy Chair of the Statutory Committee for the Pharmaceutical Society of Northern Ireland.
Kevin has experience in all areas of practise; however, Kevin specialises in commercial property, as well as in general conveyancing, trusts and wills.
Brendan Hagan LLB graduated from Queen’s University in 1973 with a BA Honours Degree in Modern History.
Brendan commenced practising as a Solicitor in 1978 and completed his apprentice with John P Hagan.
Brendan specialises in Criminal, Matrimonial and employment law and is a Solicitor Advocate and a member of the Children Order Panel.
Brendan has acted in a number of high profile criminal cases as well as Public Enquiries.
Kate Ervine graduated from Queen’s University and completed her degree in Law & Accountancy in 2006 and Trust & Estate Administration in 2009.
Kate was formerly employed by two provincial firms before joining the practice in August 2007. Kate specialises in Conveyancing, Administration of Estates; contentious Probate; Will drafting; Agricultural law and Taxation. Kate is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners.
Educated at St Joseph’s Grammar School Donaghmore, Kathryn graduated from Queen’s University Belfast in 2002 with a degree in Law and Politics (LLB).
Kathryn obtained a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Practice with Distinction from Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne in 2003.
In 2005 Kathryn was admitted as a Qualified Solicitor in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.
Kathryn worked in our Portadown office JPH Law in 2018 and later moved to our Dungannon office Simmons Meglaughlin & Orr.
Kathryn is a multifaceted general practice Solicitor who specialises in Property, Probate and Wills. She also practices in Matrimonial Law, Children’s Law, Personal Injury and General Litigation.
Michael graduated in law with LLB Hons from Queens University Belfast in 1985 He works with JPHLAW as well as being the Principal of Campbell & Grant in Newry.
Michael’s legal expertise includes conveyancing, criminal law, commercial property acquisition, sales development, residential property development, licensing, planning, trusts, inheritance tax, wills and estates both in Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland.
