Hundreds of wealthy landowners benefit from tax breaks worth at least £68m demanded by campaigners Chancellor to cancel budget.

Approximately 355 landowners, including aristocrats, are taking advantage of the so-called “tax-free inheritance scheme”.

Under this scheme, they can register land and properties as inheritance assets, which may make them tax-free. inheritance tax (IHT) And capital gains tax (CGT).

But campaigners want Rachel Reeves to scrap the tax cut in Wednesday’s budget and use the money to improve nature.

To qualify, landowners must agree to “maintain” the land and “make it available for public use.”

Campaigners argue these conditions are loose and do not require landowners to protect land for the environment.

Read Next

environmental campaigner Man Bush Base A Freedom of Information request has been made to HMRC to find out how many properties benefit from this deduction.

It was revealed that the deferred tax for the number of properties identified under the scheme between 2020 and 2024 was £45.8 million.

Just five properties identified under the scheme had £22.7 million in tax deferred between 2014 and 2019.

He added that around 350 landowners were beneficiaries.

Shrubsole wrote a book, The Lie of the SoilWhich He argues that landowners should be made more accountable for how they use and misuse land.

He said: “It is outrageous that, with the country’s finances in such dire straits under the previous government, wealthy owners of ecologically destructive grouse and pheasant shoots are receiving generous tax breaks in exchange for highly questionable benefits to taxpayers.”

He added: “Rachel Reeves could save the taxpayer tens of millions of pounds and by repealing these outdated tax cuts in his upcoming budget, we will reduce pressure on our ailing wildlife and habitats.”

According to HMRC, properties benefiting from tax relief include the Earl of Buckinghamshire’s Hampden Estate, which hosted the Hampden filming.

Another is the estate of Newburgh Priory in Yorkshire, home to a large pheasant and partridge hunt, and the estate of Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, owned by the Duke of Devonshire and dominated by a large grouse moorland.

Arun Advani, research fellow at IFS and professor of economics at the University of Warwick, said: I: “There is a case for preserving public access to heritage properties, but this could be better done through the current relaxation of the transfer of these properties to cultural institutions.

“Right now, a lot of these assets are actually pretty limited in terms of how much access the public actually has, so it’s pretty expensive for what they get.”

Properties must be of outstanding historical or architectural significance, have spectacular views, be a special area for the conservation of wildlife, plants and trees, or be of national scientific, historical or artistic significance on their own or through connection with historic buildings. It is stated on the government’s website.

If the owner does not comply with the agreement regarding its maintenance and availability to the public, also known as “commitments,” the exemption is withdrawn and the tax must be paid.

Andy Gibbs, service director at TaxAssist Accountants, added: “IHT relief is often described as conditional because there is normally a tax charge if certain commitments are not met or if the land is sold. The property must be designated by HMRC as being in the national interest and usually the new owner will need to ensure the property is maintained and the land is sold.” makes commitments to allow reasonable public access where this is the case.

“The exemption exists to prevent ownership from passing to a person who will not deal with it in the way the UK Government wishes.

“It would be better to change the conditionality of aid so that it better aligns with the government’s environmental objectives. “Simply eliminating aid would be unwise unless additional measures are put in place to prevent works of art from leaving the country and to allow public access to important historical sites.”