Changes to Agricultural and Business Property Relief reforms

The government recently announced significant changes to the planned reforms to Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR). The threshold for 100% relief will be increased from £1 million to £2.5 million when the changes take effect from 6 April 2026. The change will be introduced via an amendment to the Finance Bill 2025 with relief reduced to 50% on qualifying assets above the new level.

Spouses or civil partners will be able to pass on up to £5 million of qualifying agricultural and business assets between them free of inheritance tax, in addition to the existing nil rate bands. The transferable allowance will also apply to surviving spouses or civil partners who were widowed before the new policy was announced.

These changes adjust the reforms first announced at Autumn Budget 2024, which had attracted strong criticism from the farming community and rural businesses over the potential impact on small farms and family-owned enterprises. By raising the threshold, the government aims to significantly reduce the number of estates affected by higher inheritance tax charges, ensuring that the reforms are focused primarily on the largest estates.

The government estimates that around 85% of estates claiming APR in 2026–27, including those also claiming BPR, will pay no additional inheritance tax as a result of these changes.

Shares designated as “not listed”, such as those traded on AIM, will attract BPR at a flat rate of 50% (reduced from 100%) from April 2026. This measure was unaffected by the latest announcement.