Getting help with bereavement and inheritance tax

Updated on 31 March 2023

We have some general information on how to get help with tax matters on our Getting Help page. For bereavement and inheritance tax matters, there are however some other sources of information and support that you might find helpful. We therefore list some further places to seek help and guidance below.

Illustration of a word cloud about bereavement

Where can I find more general information on what to do after someone dies?

This website concentrates on tax and related information. To find out about more general things you need to do when someone dies, including registering the death, see the guidance on the following government websites:

GOV.UK – What to do after someone dies
National Records of Scotland (if the person who has died lived in Scotland)
nidirect (if the person who has died lived in Northern Ireland).

A broader range of information on bereavement-related matters can also be found on GOV.UK.

If the deceased lived in Scotland, you might find the guide What to do after a death in Scotland helpful, on the Scottish Government website. If you live in Northern Ireland, similar information can be found on nidirect.

How can I get help from HMRC?

HMRC’s bereavement helpline can offer practical help.

This is a time when you are likely to feel emotional and you may find it more difficult to ask your questions and to understand the answers you are given. HMRC can offer extra support at this time. HMRC’s Extra Support Team members have more time to spend on a call with you and can help you with tax issues.

Where do I get professional advice relating to a bereavement, or inheritance tax?

If the deceased was on a low income and you are unable to come to an agreement with HMRC, you may qualify for free assistance from Tax Help for Older People, where the deceased was aged over 60, or from TaxAid if the deceased was younger or self-employed.

You can find a tax adviser on the Chartered Institute of Taxation website.

There is also a Society of Trusts and Estates Practitioners (STEP), which has a membership directory that you can search. You can find a solicitor on the website of The Law Society or the Law Society of Scotland or the Law Society of Northern Ireland, as appropriate.

Can my local authority help?

Your local authority might be able to direct you to sources of bereavement support. Find out what might be available by using the following websites:

England or Wales: use the facility on GOV.UK
Scotland: visit the Scottish Government website
Northern Ireland: visit nidirect

Tax guides

Introduction to the tax system How do I work out my tax? What income is taxable? What tax allowances am I entitled to? What tax rates apply to me? How is my tax collected? What if I cannot pay my tax bill? Do I need to complete a tax return? Self Assessment: understanding the basics What is Simple Assessment? How do I claim tax back? How do I claim back tax I have overpaid through PAYE on wages or pensions? How do I claim back tax if I complete a tax return? How do I claim back tax if I am taxed under the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)? How do I claim back tax on savings income? How do I claim a marriage allowance refund? How do I claim back tax on a payment protection insurance (PPI) pay-out? Should I use a tax refund company? What is National Insurance? How do I get a National Insurance number? What are Specified Adult Childcare credits? What is Scottish income tax? What is devolution? Do I have to pay Scottish income tax? How does Scottish income tax work? What is Welsh income tax? Do I have to pay Welsh income tax? Do I have to join a pension scheme? Tax relief on your pension contributions HMRC digital services Enquiries, penalties, appeals, complaints and debt Enquiries How to survive an enquiry by HMRC Tax penalties Tax appeals Alternative Dispute Resolution How do I complain to HMRC? What if I cannot pay my tax bill? What if I have a tax credits overpayment?

Am I employed, self-employed, both or neither? Working through a limited company What is the national minimum wage? How do I work out my tax? What income is taxable? What tax allowances am I entitled to? What tax rates apply to me? How is my tax collected? How is tax collected on taxable state benefits? How do I check my coding notice? Do I need to complete a tax return? What tax do I pay on redundancy payments?Employment benefits and expenses What are benefits-in-kind? What payments and benefits are non taxable? What if I incur expenses in relation to my job? What travel expenses can I claim? What if I use my own car for business purposes? Payroll giving Allowances and expenses paid to armed forces personnel and deductions from their income Pensions and employees What is automatic enrolment for employees? What National Insurance do I pay as an employee? How do I repay my student loan? What if I do not pay enough tax? What if I pay too much tax? What if I work abroad temporarily? What if I am in the armed forces and work overseas? First time workers Apprenticeships

Am I employed, self-employed, both, or neither? How do I register for tax and National Insurance? What business records should I keep? Working out profits, losses and capital allowances When do I make Self Assessment payments and file my tax return? How do I pay tax on self-employed income? What tax allowances am I entitled to? What is the trading allowance? What National Insurance do I pay if I am self-employed? What is the Construction Industry Scheme (CIS)? Tax checks for taxi, private hire and scrap metal licences How do I work out my profits for universal credit? Do I have to pay VAT if I am self-employed? What is Making Tax Digital for VAT? Pensions and self-employment How do I repay my student loan if I am self-employed? Introduction to enquiries

Tax status Setting things up How the Pay As You Earn system works Taking on a new employee Reporting PAYE in real time Pay and deductions Ongoing payroll tasks End of year processes Employee leaving Employment law Keeping records Getting things wrong Getting more help

Can I live and work in the UK? Residence and Domicile Employment and self-employment National Insurance for migrants Coming to the UK to study Other migrant issues EU and EEA countries

Going abroad Other income Student loans Types of student Volunteering and training Working Do students have to pay council tax? Glossary of Forms Jargon buster Where can I get further help and information?

Help for employees and the self-employed Help for employers Independent living Caring for someone VAT reliefs for disabled and older people Trusts for disabled people Apprenticeships and disability

Savings and tax Property income Council tax and rates Giving to charity Income from a trust or from the estate of a deceased person Capital gains tax Cryptoassets and tax Do I need to register my trust?

Tax credits and benefits Tax credits State benefits Child benefit Universal credit

Employer-supported childcare Free childcare places Tax credits childcare support Universal credit Other childcare support Tax-free childcare

Taxes on death: overview Dealing with the deceased's own tax affairs Tax on income and gains after death Death of a spouse or civil partner Joint property on death Pension and life assurance policies on death Income from a deceased's person's estate Inheritance tax reliefs and exemptions State benefits on death Getting help with bereavement and inheritance tax Bereavement jargon buster

Share this page