Do HMRC tell you IHT not applicable?

mattsaze

I submitted my IHT forms in September 2023 and by my calculation there was no IHT due on the estate, it was well under the limit. However, do HMRC confirm this in writing to you? I have since applied and had probate granted, just not heard anything from HMRC. 

SnowMan

I sent the IHT400 and IHT421 forms to HMRC on 4th November 2023. I then received a letter from HMRC dated 27th November to say they've emailed the IH421 to the Probate Registry and saying I could now apply for the grant of probate if I haven't already done so. In that letter they also said 'if you have not heard from us by 19th February 2024 you can take it to mean we have no questions about the information you've given on form IHT400. We may still ask questions about changes you tell us about at a later date.'

So my guess is assuming the same timescales apply to you as me, that as HMRC have not written to you by now they have no questions.

longwalks1

we we sent off IHT400 in July and waited the 14 days then sent off probate (actually did it online).  I’m sure on IHT it said they’d be in touch if IHT was due.  Didn’t hear anything so assumed (knew) we’d filled it in correct (with a lot of help from people on here). 
16 weeks later to the day, had email confirmation of probate then paper copy through a week later in the post. 

Had to do some digging/asking on here regarding RNRB and using spouses IHT allowance too, but thanks to this forum we avoided any IHT on mums estate. 

mattsaze

Thanks for replies, yes agree I don’t think I could have done It without the help of the MSE guide and this forum and getting confidence from people’s experience of how (relatively) easy it was. I think solicitors pretend it is some dark art only they can practice!

longwalks1

We must of spent hours googling the meaning of some of the wording - we are certain it’s written in a way to confuse and deter Joe Public from having a go at it themselves!