Inheritance Tax Planning in Kingston

Kingston upon Thames is a London borough where property values have grown steadily for decades. If you own a home here, your estate is very likely above the inheritance tax threshold. I help Kingston families plan their estates so their wealth passes to their families, not to the taxman.
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Kingston has always attracted families and professionals. The riverside, the town centre, the schools, the transport links. It is one of the most desirable parts of South West London, and property prices reflect that.

The average property in Kingston upon Thames now sells for over £700,000. In areas like Kingston Hill, Coombe, and along the river, prices frequently exceed £1 million. Even in more modest pockets, a three-bedroom semi-detached will cost well over £600,000.

For anyone who bought their Kingston home more than 15 or 20 years ago, the increase in value has been remarkable. And with that increase comes a tax problem that many people are only now beginning to recognise.

Inheritance tax is charged at 40% on everything above your allowances. With Kingston property values where they are, the tax bill for an unplanned estate can easily exceed £100,000.

That is a large sum of money that does not have to leave your family.

Why Kingston Residents Are Particularly Exposed

Inheritance tax affects people with estates above certain thresholds. The thresholds have not kept pace with property prices, and in Kingston, that gap is especially wide.

In 2000, the average Kingston property sold for around £200,000. Today, it is over £700,000, a rise of more than 250%. Over the same period, the inheritance tax nil rate band has risen from £234,000 to just £325,000, an increase of less than 40%.

Property prices have outpaced the threshold by a factor of six. That is why so many Kingston families now have an inheritance tax problem that did not exist a generation ago.

The current thresholds are:

-> £325,000 per person (nil rate band) 

-> Up to £175,000 additional per person if you leave your home to children or grandchildren (residence nil rate band)

-> Up to £1 million combined for a married couple

These allowances have conditions. The residence nil rate band tapers away for estates above £2 million. If your property does not pass to direct descendants, the extra allowance may not apply. If your will is not drafted correctly, you could lose allowances you are entitled to.

Inheritance tax planning identifies every allowance available to you and makes sure they are properly applied. It also identifies legal strategies to reduce the taxable value of your estate beyond those allowances.
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What Is at Risk

Without a plan, your family will deal with inheritance tax on top of everything else that comes with losing a parent.

In Kingston, where estates are often large and heavily concentrated in property, the consequences can be severe:

  • The tax bill. For a single person with an estate of £800,000 and allowances of £500,000, the tax is £120,000. For a couple with £1.3 million and allowances of £1 million, it is £120,000. These are not extreme examples. They are common in Kingston.
  • The timing. HMRC expects payment within six months. During that time, the estate is frozen in probate. Your family may not have access to any of your money.
  • The property. If the tax cannot be paid from liquid assets, the house may need to be sold. In Kingston, where replacement properties are expensive, selling the family home often means your children leave the area permanently.
  • The errors. Inheritance tax calculations are complex. Mistakes can result in overpayment (which is difficult to recover) or underpayment (which triggers penalties and interest).

I have spent 35 years helping families avoid all of these outcomes.

A Kingston Family's Inheritance Tax Calculation

Here is a scenario I see regularly in Kingston.

Michael and Anne live in a Victorian terrace near Kingston town centre. They bought the house in 1998 for £210,000. It is now worth £850,000. They have two adult children.

Michael runs a small consultancy from home and has built up a portfolio of investments worth £180,000. Anne has a pension valued at £120,000 and savings of £65,000. They also own a parking space near the station that they rent out, valued at £35,000.

Total estate: £1,250,000

Their combined allowances should be £1 million. Taxable estate: £250,000. Tax bill: £100,000.

But their estate is £1,250,000, which is above the £2 million taper threshold? No, it is not. The taper only begins at £2 million, so their full residence nil rate bands apply.

The complication here is different. Michael works from home, and he claims a portion of the house as a business expense. If HMRC considers that portion of the property to be a business asset rather than a residential asset, the residence nil rate band may not apply to that portion. This could reduce their allowances and increase the bill.

Alternatively, if the business qualifies for business property relief (BPR), part of the estate could be exempt from inheritance tax entirely, actually reducing the bill below £100,000.

The same set of facts can produce very different outcomes depending on how the assets are classified. That is why specialist advice matters.

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How I Help Kingston Families

My process has three stages. It is designed to give you confidence, not confusion.
Stage One: Getting to Know Your Situation
We meet for up to 90 minutes. I will ask about your family, your assets, your concerns, and your goals.

If you have existing wills, trusts, or pension arrangements, I need to see those too.

I am not just collecting data. I am building a picture of your full situation so I can identify every opportunity.
Stage Two: Building Your Plan
I take what I have learned and do the detailed work.

I calculate your current inheritance tax exposure, identify all available allowances and reliefs, and test different planning strategies.

The result is a comprehensive report written in plain English that explains my recommendations, their benefits, and their costs. You receive this about a week before our second meeting.
Stage Three: Putting It in Place
We review the report together and agree on a plan of action.

I then implement the recommendations, which may include redrafting wills, creating trusts, restructuring pension nominations, or coordinating with your accountant or solicitor.

This phase typically takes one to three months.
By the time we are finished, you will have complete clarity about your estate, and your family will be protected from unnecessary tax.

I have helped families across Kingston and South West London with estates ranging from just above the threshold to several million pounds. The size of the estate does not change my approach. Every family gets the same level of attention and thoroughness.

What changes is the strategy. Your plan will be as individual as your family.

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About Ade

I am Ade, an inheritance tax specialist with 35 years of dedicated experience.

I work in one area only: inheritance tax planning, estate planning, and probate. I have chosen this focus deliberately because the rules are complex enough to justify a lifetime of study, and because the financial stakes for families are too high for generalist advice.

I work with clients across Kingston upon Thames, including Kingston Hill, Coombe, Norbiton, Surbiton, and the surrounding areas, as well as throughout England and Wales.

I take my clients' situations personally. Not in an emotional sense, but in the sense that every plan I produce carries my name, and I stand behind it.

What Sets My Service Apart

Exclusivity of focus. I do not spread myself across multiple areas of law. Inheritance tax is my entire practice.

Personal involvement. I handle your case from start to finish. There is no delegation to junior staff.

Transparency on fees. You receive a fixed fee quote before any work begins. There are no time-based charges.

Clarity of communication. I write and speak in plain English. If you do not understand something, I have not done my job properly.

Results. My clients consistently reduce their inheritance tax liability. Many eliminate it entirely.

If you are ready to protect your family's wealth, I am ready to show you how.

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Words From My Clients

Here is what families I have worked with have to say about the experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

Your questions about Inheritance Tax answered

Your Next Step

If you own property in Kingston and you have not had a specialist review of your inheritance tax position, now is a good time.

I will give you a clear, honest assessment of where you stand, what your options are, and what it would cost to implement a plan.

Book a consultation and let's get started.

Plan your inheritance