Embargoed: 22:30, Thursday 23rd January 2025
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Majority (55 per cent) of the British public support cutting or abolishing inheritance tax, according to polling for the TaxPayers’ Alliance by Public First.
- British people name Inheritance Tax the “least fair” tax by a huge margin, with Reform UK’s Deputy Leader calling it an “awful grief tax.”
- TPA is launching a new campaign to scrap inheritance tax, including a petition
New polling for the TaxPayers’ Alliance has found that Brits of both genders, all age groups, social grades, regions, education levels and political affiliations support either cutting or abolishing inheritance tax, with 55 per cent of all those surveyed answering in this way. In the poll - conducted by research agency Public First - almost half listed the tax as the most unfair out of a list of nine, while a plurality supported abolishing the tax entirely.
This comes as the TaxPayers’ Alliance launches a new campaign calling for the abolition of inheritance tax, with the group pointing to problems raised by the reduction of tax reliefs for businesses and family farms as evidence that the whole system of inheritance tax is unworkable, unfair and immoral. As part of this campaign the organisation is running a petition and a letter-writing tool directed at MPs.
When asked “do you think the Government should raise Inheritance Tax rates, cut inheritance tax rates, keep Inheritance Tax rates the same, or abolish Inheritance Tax all together?”:
- 27 per cent of all respondents said that inheritance tax should be cut, with 28 per cent saying it should be abolished
- This compares to 21 per cent who say it should be kept the same and 10 per cent who said it should be increased (with the remainder unsure)
- A majority of all age groups, both genders and all social grades support cutting or abolishing inheritance tax
When asked about the fairness of nine different taxes, inheritance tax was listed as the most unfair by a plurality of every group with the exception of those with a PhD. Of the total group surveyed, 46 per cent chose inheritance tax, followed by income tax on 27 per cent, stamp duty on 26 per cent and VAT on 24 per cent. This was followed by national insurance, capital gains tax, insurance premium tax, vehicle excise tax and air passenger duty.
In a major blow to the Labour government’s reforms to agricultural and business property relief, the polling also found a significant majority of those surveyed support abolishing inheritance tax for those seeking to pass down farms or businesses to family members, with 63 per cent supporting abolishing the tax for the former and 59 per cent for the latter. On family farms specifically there was not a single group which did not approve abolishing inheritance tax by a majority.
New data released this week found that receipts from inheritance tax increased by £600 million during the nine months up to December compared to the previous year.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL POLLING
CLICK HERE FOR THE POLLING BROKEN DOWN IN TABLES
Key findings:
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Polling for the TaxPayers’ Alliance by Public First has found that 55 per cent of 2,011 respondents support either abolishing (28 per cent) or cutting (27 per cent) inheritance tax, with not a single group asked not supporting cuts or abolition by a plurality. This includes:
- Over half of men and women
- Over half of all age groups
- Over half of all social grades
- 68 per cent of Conservative 2024 voters and 71 per cent of Reform 2024 voters
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When asked to rank nine taxes by fairness, 46 per cent placed inheritance tax first, followed by income tax on 27 per cent and stamp duty on 26 per cent
- All groups polled, with the exception of those with a PhD, chose inheritance tax as the most unfair
- 61 per cent of Conservative 2024 voters and Reform 2024 voters chose inheritance tax as the most unfair tax
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When asked about whether they would support abolition of inheritance tax for farmers who want to pass down their active, working farms to other family members, 63 per cent said yes with 22 per cent saying no
- Every group surveyed supported this by a majority
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When asked about whether they would support abolition of inheritance tax for families who want to pass down their operational businesses to other family members, 59 per cent said yes with 24 per cent saying no
- Every group surveyed supported this by a plurality
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL POLLING
CLICK HERE FOR THE POLLING BROKEN DOWN IN TABLES
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers' Alliance, said:
"The British public clearly recognise that inheritance tax is an almost uniquely bad tax, given their unanimous support for cutting or abolishing it altogether.
“While there are certain reforms - such as lifting thresholds - that could ease some of the pain, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the only acceptable solution in the long term is complete abolition.
“Our political leaders now need to listen to the electorate that put them in office and scrap inheritance tax once and for all.”
Deputy Leader of Reform UK and MP for Boston and Skegness, Richard Tice MP, said:
“Britons overwhelmingly believe that inheritance tax is the ‘least fair’ tax by a large margin. It is the most awful grief tax.
“They see it for what it is, the government stealing from hard working Britons and robbing their families of generations of hard work.
“All of these Labour policies threaten the UK’s prosperity and the livelihood of future generations. Reform UK will continue to stand up for family businesses, farms, and the communities they support, by scrapping inheritance tax in its entirety”
James Frayne, Chairman of Public First, said;
“For twenty years, polls have shown how much voters detest inheritance tax but politicians still blunder into raising it, only to be shocked when their ratings go down.
“It’s a stupid tax: it raises comparatively little but sends a message that the state is prepared to tax you even when you’re grieving for lost relatives.”
Mo Metcalf-Fisher, director of external affairs at the Countryside Alliance said:
"This damning new polling should serve as a reality check for Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves who continue to be in denial about the impact this unnecessary and divisive tax hike will have on our family farms.
“Labour MPs, particularly in rural areas, need to demand a policy rethink now. It would be naïve for them to think this issue and the anger and hurt it has caused will go away".
Neil Davy, CEO of Family Business UK, said:
“For decades, policies allowing family businesses to be passed down the generations have quietly, and without controversy, done precisely what they were designed to do.
“Far from raising money for the Exchequer, the changes to Inheritance Tax reliefs for family businesses, will actually end up costing the country money and could put tens of thousands of working people out of a job.
“It’s no surprise to see people backing family businesses and we would urge the Government to consult on reversing the changes.”
TPA spokespeople are available for live and pre-recorded broadcast interviews via 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Media contact:
Elliot Keck
Head of Campaigns, TaxPayers' Alliance
[email protected]
24-hour media hotline: 07795 084 113 (no texts)
Notes to editors:
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Founded in 2004 by Matthew Elliott and Andrew Allum, the TaxPayers' Alliance (TPA) campaigns to reform taxes and public services, cut waste and speak up for British taxpayers. Find out more at www.taxpayersalliance.com.
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TaxPayers' Alliance's research council.
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The TPA’s petition to scrap inheritance tax can be found here. An additional briefing note produced by the organisation can be found here.
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Public First polled a nationally representative sample of 2,011 UK adults, between 13th December and 17th December 2024. Public First is a member of the British Polling Council. The poll included questions on inheritance tax. Respondents were broken down by the following demographics:
- Gender
- Age
- Social grade
- Region
- EU 2016 vote
- 2019 vote
- 2024 vote
- Voting intention
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Education
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The following questions on inheritance tax
- Which of the following taxes do you consider to be the least fair? Select up to three.
- Do you think the Government should raise Inheritance Tax rates, cut inheritance tax rates, keep Inheritance Tax rates the same, or abolish Inheritance Tax all together?
- Thinking specifically about family-owned businesses, do you think Inheritance Tax should be abolished for families who want to pass down their operational businesses to other family members?
- Thinking specifically about family-owned businesses, do you think Inheritance Tax should be abolished for families who want to pass down their operational businesses to other family members?