IHT410 Form: Life Assurance and Annuities

What is IHT410 and how do I complete it?

1IHT410 is the schedule submitted with IHT400 covering life assurance policies, payouts on death, and annuities held by the deceased.
2Whether a policy counts towards inheritance tax depends on how it was held: a policy paid to the estate is taxable; a policy written in trust usually pays directly to the named beneficiaries and falls outside the estate.
3You still answer the IHT410 questions even for policies in trust — HMRC wants to know about them, and premiums the deceased paid on someone else's policy can count as gifts.
4Joint-life and mortgage-protection policies, and any annuity with a guarantee period still paying out after death, are all reported here.
5Values are taken at the date of death — for a policy that pays out on death, that is the sum assured plus any bonuses.

Life insurance is one of the most commonly misunderstood parts of an IHT400 submission. The key question is almost always the same: was the policy written in trust? That single fact usually decides whether the payout is part of the taxable estate. This guide explains what goes on IHT410 and how to get the treatment right.

When you need IHT410

Complete IHT410 (and submit it with the IHT400) if the deceased:

held any life assurance policy that paid out on their death;
was paying premiums on a policy for someone else's benefit (this can be a gift);
had a joint-life or mortgage-protection policy, or an investment bond with life cover;
received, or was entitled to, an annuity — particularly one with a guarantee period continuing after death.

In trust or not? The question that decides the tax

Completing these forms yourself?

1 in 3 applications are sent back for form errors. In 2 minutes, we'll check the fields people most often get wrong — before you submit.

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Written in trust: the payout goes directly to the named beneficiaries, not into the estate, so it is generally outside the estate for inheritance tax. You still note it on IHT410. See life insurance held in trust.
Not in trust: the payout is made to the estate, forms part of it, and is taxable. See life insurance and the estate.
Premiums for others: if the deceased paid premiums on a policy benefiting someone else, those premiums may be lifetime gifts and belong on IHT403 as well.

If you are not sure whether a policy is in trust, the insurer can confirm it — ask when you notify them of the death and make the claim.

Common mistakes

Including a trust policy's payout in the taxable estate (or excluding a non-trust policy that should be in it).
Forgetting premiums paid on someone else's policy, which may be reportable gifts.
Missing an annuity guarantee period that continues to pay after death.
Using a surrender value instead of the death sum assured for a policy that paid out on death.

Working through the IHT400 schedules?

Farra helps you work out which schedules apply and what to put on each one, step by step.

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When you need IHT410

Complete IHT410 (and submit it with the IHT400) if the deceased:

held any life assurance policy that paid out on their death;

was paying premiums on a policy for someone else's benefit (this can be a gift);

had a joint-life or mortgage-protection policy, or an investment bond with life cover;

received, or was entitled to, an annuity — particularly one with a guarantee period continuing after death.

In trust or not? The question that decides the tax

Completing these forms yourself?

1 in 3 applications are sent back for form errors. In 2 minutes, we'll check the fields people most often get wrong — before you submit.

Check my application

Written in trust: the payout goes directly to the named beneficiaries, not into the estate, so it is generally outside the estate for inheritance tax. You still note it on IHT410. See life insurance held in trust.

Not in trust: the payout is made to the estate, forms part of it, and is taxable. See life insurance and the estate.

Premiums for others: if the deceased paid premiums on a policy benefiting someone else, those premiums may be lifetime gifts and belong on IHT403 as well.

If you are not sure whether a policy is in trust, the insurer can confirm it — ask when you notify them of the death and make the claim.

Common mistakes

Including a trust policy's payout in the taxable estate (or excluding a non-trust policy that should be in it).

Forgetting premiums paid on someone else's policy, which may be reportable gifts.

Missing an annuity guarantee period that continues to pay after death.

Using a surrender value instead of the death sum assured for a policy that paid out on death.

Working through the IHT400 schedules?

Farra helps you work out which schedules apply and what to put on each one, step by step.

Get started

IHT410 Form: Life Assurance and Annuities — Complete Guide 2026

What is IHT410 and how do I complete it?

When you need IHT410

In trust or not? The question that decides the tax

Common mistakes

Probate — only if you actually need it

IHT410 Form: Life Assurance and Annuities — Complete Guide 2026

What is IHT410 and how do I complete it?

When you need IHT410

In trust or not? The question that decides the tax

Common mistakes

Probate — only if you actually need it