WAR veterans, including doctors and nurses – and even journalists – who were wounded or fell ill on active service could be exempt from inheritance tax, according to a Warrington solicitor.
If it can be proved after their death that they died as a result, even indirectly, of their injuries, the tax may not have to be paid.
Gemma Kelly of Forshaws Davies Ridgway recently represented the family of a Second World War veteran. He died recently from broncho pneumonia, but Gemma and the FDR team successfully claimed back all inheritance tax on his estate by showing that his death was indirectly
linked to a wound he received in Burma in the 1940s.
As a soldier, he had received a shrapnel injury to the head which was treated with the insertion of a metal plate. This led to later health conditions and ultimately the fatal broncho pneumonia.
All inheritance tax, worth more £20,000 was returned to the family.
Gemma calls for anybody injured in conflict, or the families of lost loved-ones, to speak with their solicitor, “This exemption from IHT appears to be little known. This not only affects elderly war veterans but recent and current military personnel as well.
” We would encourage service men and women who are injured during conflict to ensure they keep a record of the injury and provide this information to their solicitor when writing or updating their Will.”
Inheritance Tax is only payable on estates worth over £325,000 but Gemma points out that this includes many unsuspecting people,
“This may appear to be a lot of money, but when families consider property, savings, possessions, pensions, trusts, investments, etc it can often mount up to greater than expected.
“I would strongly advise that everyone speaks to a qualified solicitor when drawing up a will so they can fully explain what is to be taken in to account and whether there may be legitimate exemptions to IHT rules.”
