How much form-filling is there in a straightforward estate with IHT due?

ferger

This much:



My tips for others:

• Beg or borrow a decent sheet-feed scanner
• Record everything
• Be very clear on method and process you'll adopt
• Get clear on the forms you'll have to complete early - and read through them to understand exactly what details you'll need
• Evernote. Invaluable. 200 notes and counting.

Jolly glad to be past that stage of the process :beer:

troubleinparadise

Ah, happy memories! :eek:

I do remember feeling overwhelmed when I saw the reams of paper, but then you find you actually only fill in very little per section .... But an OCD-like obsession for straight lines and order overtook me, and it all fell into place.

But also a great sense of relief when I finally packed it all up and posted it off - I asked HMRC to check it too, so I knew I'd soon hear if I'd missed anything or got it wrong. And there were a couple of things, but all sorted very amiably over the phone (and a further payment from me/the estate without penalty for an error).

Well done - this will become history soon, and you can get back to normal life again

ferger

Yes, being a bit obsessive about order and detail is helpful I think. I haven't found it too overwhelming... but I am a very process-oriented type and have a bit of a finance background too, which helps a lot. But there is no doubt it's time consuming, however efficient you are about it. And I was just struck by just how much paper I had to collect together and send off with the IHT400. It was a heavy parcel!

ameliarate

I am very curious to know how long it took people to DIY probate with IHT. I only ask because for my sister's estate we got Solicitors involved - never again!

I am pretty sure they had all the information, valuations etc they needed by the beginning of January, but probate was not applied for until about May/June.

Savvy_Sue

One tip: by all means use double sided printing, but do NOT re-use odd sheets of already used (on one side only) paper, even for your draft copies.

I was occasionally presented with reams of paper which occasionally made no sense, until I turned them 'right side up'.

I am not sure how many trees we saved, mind.

ferger

ameliarate wrote: »

I am very curious to know how long it took people to DIY probate with IHT. I only ask because for my sister's estate we got Solicitors involved - never again!

I am pretty sure they had all the information, valuations etc they needed by the beginning of January, but probate was not applied for until about May/June.

In my case: My father died just before Christmas. I didn't really move on anything (apart from the essential have-to-deal-with-it stuff) until we had got the funeral out of the way in mid-Jan, but I cracked on with it then, and kept on top of stuff - generally turned letters round within a day or so, chased up laggardly responses etc. I submitted the IHT400 and PA1 on the day I took this picture, 20/3. About 10 weeks from start to finish.

Still waiting to hear back from the Probate Registry / HMRC. The enforced break from paperwork is very welcome, but I know that I will have at least as much to do again once I receive the grant.