Pension Death Benefits - Strategic Planning & Practical Administration in the New IHT Landscape

Introduction

From 6 April 2027, the inheritance tax treatment of pension death benefits is changing dramatically. Most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will be brought within the deceased’s estate for IHT purposes, potentially increasing tax exposure and creating new responsibilities for advisers and personal representatives.

These changes affect far more than pension wrappers alone. They raise important questions about lifetime planning, beneficiary outcomes, Will drafting, estate administration and the practical steps that must be taken after death. Advisers will need a clear understanding of both the current regime and the future rules in order to guide clients confidently through this transition.

This new full-day course is designed to give professional advisers the strategic and practical insight needed to respond effectively.

Find out:

• How the current and post-April 2027 pension death benefit rules compare
• The interaction between pensions, Wills, trusts and the wider estate
• The planning opportunities available during a client’s lifetime
• The options open to beneficiaries and personal representatives
• The administrative and communication challenges that are likely to arise on death
• Where early preparation and carefully coordinated advice can reduce risk and improve outcomes

Register today to ensure you are fully prepared for the 2027 reforms and equipped to advise clients on the tax, estate planning and administration issues that will become increasingly important in the years ahead.

What You Will Learn

This course will cover the following:

• Refresh your understanding of how pension death benefits are currently taxed and passed to beneficiaries
• Understand the new IHT rules for pension death benefits taking effect from 6 April 2027
• Help clients structure pension wealth efficiently during their lifetime to minimise tax exposure and reduce the administrative burden on death
• Review and coordinate pension death benefit nominations with Wills, while understanding the impact of pension scheme discretion
• Navigate the roles and responsibilities of personal representatives, pension scheme administrators and beneficiaries, including key information requirements and deadlines
• Explore the options for paying IHT on pension death benefits, including the withholding and direct payment mechanisms
• See the rules in practice through worked examples covering a range of family and estate planning scenarios
• Gain practical guidance for advisers, including the scope and limitations of advice for professionals who are not FCA regulated