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Is a foreign inheritance taxable in the UK?

Question:

If you receive money from an inheritance from abroad, are you obliged to pay tax on the money? 

Arthur Weller replies: 

There is no tax to pay when a person receives inheritance money from abroad. This assumes that the person who died was not subject to UK inheritance tax. However, HMRC is likely to 'wake up' with interest when a significant amount of money comes into the UK to the account of a UK individual. Possibly, they may question the recipient, suspecting that the money came from a capital disposal abroad, or is overseas income. So, it is important that the incoming money should be well documented, with proof that it has come from an inheritance. 

If you receive money from an inheritance from abroad, are you obliged to pay tax on the money? 

Arthur Weller replies: 

There is no tax to pay when a person receives inheritance money from abroad.

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This question was first printed in Tax Insider in February 2025.