New HMRC 'double tax' update as date set for pension rule change

Unused pension pots are set for a major changeRory Poulter10:16, 11 Aug 2026Families could face a new tax double whammy on pensions under plans due to come into force in 2027, experts have warned.‌Unused pension pots are set to be dragged into the inheritance tax net from April 6, 2027, potentially exposing thousands of families to a hefty tax bill when a loved one dies. But new HMRC plans could make the controversial changes even more costly by denying pension assets some of the valuable inheritance tax reliefs available to other parts of an estate.‌HMRC says the reason for bringing unused pension funds into IHT from April 6, 2027, is to tackle what it describes as 'distortions' in the current tax system.‌In its May 2026 technical note, HMRC says the reform is intended to remove distortio