An analysis of inheritance tax data by law firm Kingsley Napley shows the geographical dispersal of estates hit by inheritance tax bills, which raised a record £6bn in taxes in the latest official figures. 

Based on the latest HMRC statistics, Kingsley Napley analysis shows that the London area of Barnet comes top of the league by volume of estates affected by IHT with 316 estates hit by the tax raising £92m with an average payment of £291,000. The most affluent London borough, Kensington and Chelsea, leads by average value of IHT paid at £1.06m on a mere 144 estates, raising £1.5bn, making up 25% of total inheritance tax. 

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not simply London and the Home Counties that pay higher IHT – Stratford-upon-Avon, Winchester, Devon and Dorset are hot spot areas too, Kingsley Napley said.  

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