Loss on shares and inheritance tax

For inheritance tax purposes it is the value of any assets at the date of death that is taken into account. However if the executors subsequently sell certain assets such as shares at a loss there is a special relief that can be claimed. In simple terms, the relief allows for the sale price of the sold shares to be substituted for their date of death values. There are a number of conditions that need to be satisfied to claim this relief including: - The shares being sold within 12 months of the date of death - The shares being quoted shares - The shares being sold by the personal representatives