Legacy giving via your Will is a powerful way to support the causes you care about, while also creating a meaningful financial legacy for your family.

Legacy giving has become increasingly popular and according to the Legacy Giving Report 2025, produced by Legacy Futures, was worth £4.5 billion in 2025, up nine per cent on the previous year.

Around 30 per cent of the fundraising income from the leading 1,000 charities now comes from legacy donations.

By including charitable gifts in your Will, you can reduce the impact of Inheritance Tax (IHT) and ensure your values continue to make a difference long after you are gone.

What is Inheritance Tax?

Inheritance Tax is charged on the estate, property, money and possessions, of someone who has died.

At present, estates valued above £325,000 may face IHT at 40 per cent, unless they benefit from certain reliefs, which can significantly reduce what is passed on to loved ones.

How legacy giving helps

Charitable giving can reduce or even eliminate your estate’s IHT liability depending on your circumstances.

All gifts left to registered charities are free from IHT and if you leave at least 10 per cent of your estate to a cause, the rate of IHT drops from 40 per cent to 36 per cent.

You can also give gifts during your lifetime to reduce your IHT liabilities, which won’t be counted as part of your estate.

By utilising legacy gifts, you can reduce the size of your taxable estate, bringing it below the current IHT thresholds, which remain frozen until 2030.

Planning your legacy

Choosing the charities you wish to support is a personal and fulfilling decision. Our estate planning specialists can help you structure your Will so that your wishes are carried out in the most tax-efficient way.

As an accountancy firm licensed to manage the probate process, we are uniquely placed to guide you from planning through to administration.

Our team works with you to ensure your estate plan reflects your values, provides clarity for your loved ones and makes the most of the reliefs available.

If you would like to explore how legacy giving could form part of your estate plan, please get in touch with our team at Rotherham Taylor.