From: John Boyle 
Newsgroups: uk.finance
Subject: Re: investment bond "written in trust"
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2006 23:01:58 +0100

In message <1160471913.050410.216260@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>, 
nospammer999@hotmail.com writes
>
>Thanks ... it never rains but it poors...
>My mother is just diagnosed terminally ill and has asked me to look
>into getting her finances in shape ... it looked as if estate was going
>to be under the exempt limit ... but I have discovered some shares
>which were left to her by my late father ... If I do nothing I think
>these will get hit @ 40% IHT ... obviously there is not enough time for
>them to be given as a PET ... but is there any other way of minimising
>tax at this late stage (eg any advantage in putting them in trust for
>grandchildren)?
>I'm looking for ideas ... but will shortly need to get professional
>advice ... which profession... solicitor, accountant or IFA?
>thanks AJ
>
It will only be the bit that takes the total estate over the threshold 
that will be taxed @ 40%.

Sadly, if the estate is>£285k and life expectancy is very short, i.e. 
less than 4 years, then there is not much that can be done. PETs and 
Discounted Gifts wouldnt work.

Suggest that she gives away as much as the normal annual gift allowances 
will allow.
-- 
John Boyle