Consumer group Which? says parents need to understand the tax consequences
Many families can benefit(Image: Kathrin Ziegler via Getty Images)
Parents assisting their children onto the property ladder are being cautioned about a little-known £3,000 tax rule that could spare families from future complications. With house prices compelling many first-time buyers to depend on the so-called “Bank of Mum and Dad”, consumer group Which? warns parents must grasp the tax implications before transferring substantial sums for a deposit.
Many families are gifting thousands of pounds to help children purchase their first home, but these payments could potentially be pulled back into an estate for inheritance tax purposes if the parent passes away within seven years. Which? advises parents can mitigate some of that risk by utilising the annual gifting allowance, which allows people to give away up to £3,000 each tax year without the money being counted towards inheritance tax by HMRC.
The consumer group cautions that parents transferring large lump sums could otherwise face a “hefty” inheritance tax bill. Under existing rules, any gifts exceeding the available exemptions may still be liable for inheritance tax if the donor dies within seven years of making them.
The £3,000 allowance can also be rolled over for one year if it hasn’t been used previously. This means a couple who haven’t made gifts in the preceding tax year could potentially give away as much as £12,000 between them without it being counted towards inheritance tax.
Individual gifts of up to £250 per person are also allowed under the regulations. The alert comes as increasing numbers of first-time buyers find it difficult to save deposits while dealing with elevated property prices and stricter mortgage affordability assessments. According to Which?, gifting or lending a deposit continues to be one of the most prevalent ways parents assist children in purchasing a home.
Nevertheless, lenders will usually require proof demonstrating where the funds came from. Parents making an outright gift may need to sign a declaration confirming the money doesn’t need to be repaid and that they will have no legal stake in the property.
For families unable to provide a cash deposit, alternative routes include guarantor mortgages, joint mortgages and joint borrower sole proprietor mortgages, where parents support affordability calculations without being listed on the property’s deeds.
Which? said: “If you’re looking to help your child buy a property, the good news is that there are several routes available – including gifting or loaning a deposit, acting as a guarantor for their mortgage or taking out a mortgage together.”
The organisation also encouraged parents to seek professional guidance before making significant financial commitments, particularly where retirement plans or inheritance tax liabilities could be impacted. Specialists advise that families should establish from the beginning whether funds are being provided as a gift, a loan or an investment, and make certain any agreements are correctly documented to prevent disagreements down the line.
As first-time purchasers become more reliant on parental assistance, grasping the inheritance tax regulations could be equally as crucial as securing the right mortgage arrangement.
