Massive Probate Fees Increase Scrapped

The Government has decided to review the probate system and not impose the proposed increase in probate application fees.  A u-turn on probate fee increases.

In 2016, plans were announed to increase the probate fee when administrating someone’s estate upon death with

• Estate assets of less than £500,000 from £215 to £250
• Estates valued more than £1million the fee would be £4,000
• Estates valued more than £2million would be £6,000.

Probate fees are in addition any inheritance taxes payable.

The planned fee increase was originally from April 2019 but was delayed, as with many other tax and pension changes, on Brexit uncertainty.

Comment

We are delighted that the Government has taken note after multiple campaigns against the fee increase as this, in our opinion, is a way of increasing inheritance taxes without 'officially' increasing taxes.  Yet another stealth tax.