Wealthy individuals making financial gifts to loved ones – but it’ll come with a cost! 

• Almost half (45%) of HNWs have no written record of what they’ve gifted to loved ones

• Of this, 29% keep mental notes on what they’ve already gifted or plan to, while 17% simply have no record of what they’ve gifted

• HNWs are exceeding the gifting allowance of £3,000, giving away an average of £8,367 in the last year

• Beneficiaries are being put at risk of potentially paying costly and unexpected IHT bills 

Nearly half (45%) of wealthy individuals have no written record of what they’ve gifted to loved ones, according to new research from Charles Stanley, part of Raymond James Wealth Management. Financial gifts are a smart way to manage inheritance tax (IHT), but only if the right records are kept and put in writing.

Almost one in three (29%) rely on keeping mental notes on what they’ve gifted or plan to, while 17% simply have no record of what they’ve gifted in their lifetime. While making financial gifts has always been a popular way to pass wealth onto loved ones and mitigate inheritance tax (IHT) on estates, without detailed written records of what has been gifted this could leave loved ones with potentially costly and unexpected tax bills.

Just under half (48%) of HNW respondents say they have a written list of exactly what they’ve gifted or plan to. This will therefore make the job simpler for any executors of your estate, who will be responsible for reporting any financial gifts through the IHT400 form, particularly those made in the seven years prior to death.

Encouragingly, 97% have made or plan to make some form of financial gift to family members or friends, whether it be money for them to travel, use for a house deposit, or to start a business. Of those who have made financial gifts in the last year, this averages £8,367. However, this far exceeds what individuals can give away under the current gifting rules of up to £3,000 each tax year. While generous, this means that if individuals were to pass away within seven years of making these gifts, beneficiaries would be subject to paying inheritance tax on what they were gifted..

Looking across generations, Baby Boomers (aged 61-79) say they have gifted an average of £11,756 in the last year, while generation X (aged 45-60) have gifted an average of  £6,795 

Harry Bell, Director of Financial Planning at Charles Stanley, comments: “Making financial gifts is one of the best ways to offset IHT, and is seeing a growth in popularity as a way to transfer wealth from generation to generation. With IHT thresholds also remaining frozen and private pensions set to be included in estate valuation from 2027, gifting will only become more popular as a tool for families to pass their wealth on. However our research shows that there is a concerning lack of understanding around gifting and the potential unintended consequences if not done appropriately.

“Making gifts by the book is what really matters. While many claim to keep a record of what gifts have been made, it’s only those with written records that HMRC can track. Any other gifts made without justification will be liable to IHT if the estate threshold exceeds £325,000. Seeking professional advice is highly advisable when it comes to estate planning. Not only can advisers support clients with achieving their wealth plans, but can help make the most of all tax-efficient vehicles and allowances to simplify estates left behind.”

Methodology:

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 2,001 28+ HNWI (defined as £100k ‘personal’ income OR £100k investable assets, AND/OR £200k household income).. The data was collected between 01.09.2025 – 08.09.2025. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.