Gifting money to children with minimal tax

Research commissioned by Flagstone shows that 61% of younger people (aged 18-34) keep at least three months’ salary for emergencies. Despite this, younger generations are still struggling financially, and parents are turning to early inheritances to help. The ‘great wealth transfer’ is projected to pass down as much as £5.5tn by 2050 in the UK alone.

There are several ways to transfer wealth between generations without paying unnecessary tax. Understanding the rules means that you can make the best decisions for your finances, ensuring that the money you gift stays in the family.

But making sense of the guidance is a challenge. The combination of exemptions, allowances, and lesser-known HMRC rules can make it difficult to know how much money you can gift tax-free.

In this article, we’ll explain how to gift money to children in the most tax-efficient way possible.

How gifting money to family works in the UK

In the UK, the rules around gifting money to family vary depending on who gets the gift and the size of your donation. If the gift is taxable, the giver is the one who needs to pay, not the person receiving it.

Gifting money to children vs. spouses

Partners and spouses are exempt from Inheritance Tax, meaning there are no limits on what they can receive. But children aren’t exempt, which means they could face tax charges depending on the amount gifted (more on that later). We’ve listed five ways you can reduce tax bills when passing on your wealth.

Five methods for gifting money to children in the UK tax-free

1. Annual exemption

The annual exemption means that every year, you can donate £3,000 without paying tax. The allowance is given to each taxpayer, so two parents can give £3,000 respectively. This means that you could pass on £6,000 tax-free if you both choose to make a gift .

You can carry over your annual exemption to the following tax year if you haven’t used it. But you can only do this once.

2. Small gift allowance

You can gift up to £250 each year to as many people as you like without paying tax, as long as you haven’t used another allowance (like the annual exemption) for the same person in that tax year.

3. Wedding or civil partnership gifts

You can gift as much as £5,000 tax-free to a child if they’re getting married, or entering a civil partnership. The limit for grandchildren or great-grandchildren is £2,500. If you want to gift wedding money to anyone else, you can donate up to £1,000.

4. Normal expenditure out of income

This lesser-known rule means you can pay for children’s costs out of your own income tax-free. This can include paying rent, or contributing to a savings account for children under 18.

You can only use the ‘normal expenditure out of income’ rule if it won’t affect your quality of life. There’s no limit on contributions, but payments must be made regularly from your income.

5. Early inheritance

Your loved ones won’t pay Inheritance Tax on gifts you give during your lifetime. Instead, the government takes tax out of your estate (everything you own) when you pass away. Every UK taxpayer can transfer an allowance of £325,000 tax-free. If the total value of your estate is below £325,000, your beneficiaries won’t pay Inheritance Tax.

If your estate is worth more than this allowance, you may have to pay Inheritance Tax. But if you’re gifting money to children early, there’s a higher chance your gift will become exempt. This is because of the seven-year rule.

What is the seven-year Inheritance Tax rule?

The seven-year rule means that gifts you make during your lifetime may be subject to Inheritance Tax if you pass away within seven years. But the longer you live after making a gift, the less tax may be due. If you live for seven years or more, your gift becomes exempt from Inheritance Tax, and won’t be included in your estate.

Here’s how it works:

How much money can you gift tax-free to a family member in the UK?

If two parents use their annual exemption, and carry over their allowance from the year before, they can contribute £6,000 each. If this goes to one child, that would mean they can give £12,000 tax-free. This means you could gift as much as £12,000 in a year without it being counted as part of your estate.

Your circumstances will be unique, so it’s important to get professional advice. Speaking with a Financial Adviser can help you if you’re unsure how to maximise your tax efficiency.

Gifting money to adult children vs. gifting property

Adult children (18 years-old and above) can receive different kinds of gifts, including property. But there are reasons why giving cash might be more beneficial.

Estates are based on value

Property can quickly use up your Inheritance Tax allowance if you don’t pass it on to a husband, wife, or civil partner who are exempt.

If you pass on property to a child, or grandchild, and your estate is worth less than £2m, your tax-free threshold can increase to £500,000. The seven-year rule also applies to property, so if you pass away unexpectedly within seven years, your child might need to sell the property to cover any Inheritance Tax.

If an adult child sells a property you’ve gifted, they could be responsible for paying Capital Gains Tax on the profit they make from the sale.

Gifting money to younger children

In addition to the methods above, you can give money to younger children (under 18 years-old) if they have a Junior ISA (or JISA). Parents and grandparents can pay into an account on their behalf. The limit for contributions into a JISA is £9,000 per tax year, per child.

Setting up trusts

Trusts can give you control over the circumstances of payments, making them an attractive tool for gifting money. Trusts involve three people, known as the:

• Settlor: The person paying into the trust (you) 
• Trustee: The person managing the trust (someone you nominate over the age of 18) 
• Beneficiary: The person benefitting from the trust (your child, grandchild, or another person you choose) 

Tax rules can be complex for trusts, so it’s important to consider whether an early inheritance is a more efficient option.

Frequently asked questions on gifting money to children

Can I gift £3,000 to each child in the UK?

No, your allowance is a set amount you can donate annually. But you can split your gift between multiple people. For example, three children could receive £1,000 each from one parent.

Can I give my son £20,000?

Yes, you can gift as much money as you like. But depending on the circumstances you may have to pay tax on some of the donation. For larger gifts, it may be a good idea to give earlier. This increases your chances of not paying Inheritance Tax, as gifts made seven years before you pass away are exempt.

Do I need to declare cash gifts to HMRC in the UK?

No, you would only need to report it to HMRC if the cash gift resulted in dividends or interest. This is because dividends and interest are considered income unless earned in an ISA.

Gifting money to help children build future wealth

Gifting money to family, especially children, can help set your loved ones up for future success despite the financial challenges they face. Combining multiple forms of tax relief minimises what you need to pay. But it’s worth speaking to a qualified professional to ensure you’re following the rules.

For parents looking to pass on their wealth to younger generations, using the right tools can help spread risk and maximise earnings across a diversified portfolio. With strong finances, you’ll be in the best position make an impact with your generosity.

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