The nil-rate band is the amount of an estate that is free from Inheritance Tax. There is also an additional residence nil-rate band available where a main home passes to direct descendants. For a married couple or civil partners, unused nil-rate bands from the first death can be transferred to the survivor. For current IHT thresholds visit gov.uk/inheritance-tax or speak to our tax team. Estates above the available threshold pay IHT at 40 per cent.