Can I leave money to charity in my will?
Yes. You can leave any amount to charity in your will — a fixed sum, a specific item, or a share of your estate. Gifts to UK-registered charities are free of inheritance tax, and if you leave 10% or more of your net estate to charity, the inheritance-tax rate on the rest drops from 40% to 36%. It's a popular way to support a cause and reduce tax.
Detailed explanation
Charitable giving in a will is both straightforward and tax-efficient — the law actively encourages it.
Ways to give
- Pecuniary gift — a fixed sum of money.
- Specific gift — a particular item or asset.
- Residuary gift — a share (or all) of what's left after other gifts.
The tax advantages
- Charitable gifts are exempt from inheritance tax, reducing the taxable estate.
- Leave 10%+ of the net estate to charity and the IHT rate on the remainder falls to 36%.
Getting it right
Name the charity accurately and include its registered charity number, so there's no doubt which organisation you mean.
An estate of £600,000 would face 40% inheritance tax above the nil-rate band. By leaving 10% of the net estate to charity, the gift is tax-free and the rate on the remaining taxable estate falls to 36% — so more goes to both the charity and the family than a straight 40% bill would allow.
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Sources
- GOV.UK — Inheritance Tax: leaving gifts to charity
- HMRC — reduced rate of Inheritance Tax (36%) for charitable giving
- Wills Act 1837, section 9 — legislation.gov.uk
- Reviewed by
- ClearLegacy editorial team
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
- Next review
- December 2026
- Jurisdiction
- England & Wales
Frequently asked questions
Can I leave money to charity in my will?
Yes. You can leave any amount — a fixed sum, an item, or a share of your estate — to charity. Gifts to UK-registered charities are free of inheritance tax, and leaving 10% or more of your net estate to charity reduces the IHT rate on the rest from 40% to 36%.
Do charitable gifts in a will reduce inheritance tax?
Yes. Charitable gifts are exempt from inheritance tax and reduce the taxable estate. If you give at least 10% of your net estate to charity, the inheritance-tax rate on the remainder drops from 40% to 36%.
How do I name a charity in my will?
Use the charity's full name and its registered charity number to avoid ambiguity. A residuary or pecuniary gift can be used, and a substitute clause helps in case the charity later merges or changes name.
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