Inheritance Tax Loan For Business Owners
What Is An Inheritance Tax Loan For Business Owners?
If you are an Executor or family managing an estate that includes a business, you may face an Inheritance Tax bill before you can access the money needed to pay it.
The problem is that many business estates are asset-rich but cash-poor. The value of the business might sit in stock, private shares, director loans, property used by the business, or assets that cannot be sold without disrupting the company.
At the same time, Inheritance Tax usually has to be paid to HMRC within six months of death, even though probate can’t be granted until the tax is settled. Without probate, you may not be able to access money within the estate to unlock the cash you need.
And with Business Property Relief (BPR) being capped from April 2026, more businesses than ever will be liable to pay IHT.
For many businesses across the country, this can put them in an incredibly difficult position. And for families who have spent years building a business, being forced into rushed decisions at this point can feel deeply unfair.
Luckily, we can help.
At Provira, our Estate Advance gives estates immediate access to up to 50% of the net value of the estate, including businesses. Funds can be used to pay Inheritance Tax, and also wider estate expenses like legal fees, valuations and any property repairs.
Applications are assessed based on the net value of the estate. We don’t ask for personal guarantees or expect you to put down assets as collateral.
The Advance is paid back in full when the money from the estate is released. We don’t ask for monthly repayments, we don’t charge compound interest and there are no early repayment fees.
How it works
Efficient solutions, fast
Provira allows you to access up to 50% of the net value of a business estate within 3 days of applying, helping you meet Inheritance Tax deadlines without selling company shares or disrupting the daily running of the business.
Simple and straight-forward pricing
We only charge simple interest (not compound interest) so costs are fixed and transparent. You are not paying interest on the interest and we are fully FCA regulated, giving business-owning families support and clarity during a difficult time.
Confidence in the process
We work directly with solicitors and pay HMRC Inheritance Tax on business assets directly. There is no personal guarantee needed, no monthly repayments, and no early repayment fees, allowing the business and estate to be managed at the right pace, rather than under pressure.
Get your Inheritance Advance in these 4 simple steps
1
2
Send us your documents
We confirm your eligibility and send you a list of the documents we’ll require, including:
- The most recent business accounts
- Evidence of a professional business valuation
- Copy of Death Certificate
- Copy of Will (if applicable)
- Copy of Grant of Probate/Confirmation/Letters of Administration (if applicable)
- Confirmation of the assets and liabilities within the estate
- Proof of ID, address and bank details
We confirm your eligibility and send you a list of the documents we’ll require, including:
Show list
- The most recent business accounts
- Evidence of a professional business valuation
- Copy of Death Certificate
- Copy of Will (if applicable)
- Copy of Grant of Probate/Confirmation/Letters of Administration (if applicable)
- Confirmation of the assets and liabilities within the estate
- Proof of ID, address and bank details
3
Your application is assessed
Our experienced underwriters assess your application within 48 hours and successful applications receive a formal email offer.
4
Receive your funds
Loan documents are issued, signed (normally electronically) and funds are transferred the same day to your nominated bank account.
Ready to get started?
Our deeply experienced, caring team is here to answer any questions. Give us a call on 020 8038 6896 or start your application now.
Why This Is Becoming More Relevant For Business Owners in 2026
From 6 April 2026, Business Relief (formerly known as Business Property Relief) is changing.
From April 2026, full Inheritance Tax relief on business assets will only apply to the first £2.5 million. Any value above this will only receive partial relief, meaning Inheritance Tax of around 20% may be due on the amount over the limit.
For families that own businesses, this means an Inheritance Tax bill might appear quite quickly, with little time to release enough cash.
If your family is worried about having to sell shares, refinance, or disrupt the business just to pay HMRC, an Estate Advance with Provira can provide you with the breathing space and time you need to make calm decisions.
Jon – Estate Advance
From roaming to roots. Jon’s story of creating a legacy for his kids.
Jon – Estate Advance
From roaming to roots. Jon’s story of creating a legacy for his kids.
Representative example
An Advance of £50,000 with an Arrangement Fee of 2% (£1,000) and an Interest rate of 24% (fixed). Interest is calculated on the advance and the fee and accrues daily.
*representative 26.5% APR.
What Are The Fees For An Inheritance Tax Loan for Business Owners?
Our arrangement fee is charged at 1-2% of the loan, and this is simply added to the amount borrowed, rather than paid at the start. Interest is charged at 1.5-2% per month for as long as you need to complete probate and release the cash from the estate..
Importantly, we only charge simple interest rather than compound interest. This means costs stay predictable while the estate is being settled, and interest does not snowball over time.
For business-owning families, this can make a big difference, leading to big savings compared to lenders who charge compound interest for months on end.
We’re here to help
It’s important to us that you have all the information you need to move forward with hope.
or call us on 0203 813 6400
FAQ's
Yes. Many business estates are valuable but lack the cash needed to pay Inheritance Tax. For many families, this may force them to consider selling the company in order to pay.
An Estate Advance can help by providing the funds to pay Inheritance Tax while probate is ongoing, giving families time to keep the business running and letting them decide what to do, rather than forcing them to sell under pressure.
Yes. If the value of a business is being used as part of the estate when securing the advance, we will need confirmation that the business or its assets will eventually be sold or realised as part of the estate.
This doesn’t mean the business has to be sold quickly or under pressure. It simply allows us to lend responsibly while giving the estate time and flexibility.
We typically ask for the most recent business accounts and any professional valuation documents, as well as all standard estate and probate documents. We work directly with solicitors and advisers to make sure we have what’s needed.
No. Our Estate Advance is designed to support estates without disrupting the day-to-day running of the business. The money from the advance can be used to settle Inheritance Tax and other estate expenses while the business continues to operate.
When a business forms part of the estate, we will first ask for confirmation that the business (or business assets) will be sold once the probate process has been completed. We will also ask for the most recent accounts and an official valuation.
This allows us to take the full value of the business into account when granting the advance.
With changes to Business Relief from April 2026, some estates may have to pay an Inheritance Tax bill for the first time. An Estate Advance can help cover the tax due without forcing families to sell business assets that they would have otherwise kept.
No. Estate Advances are granted against the estate itself, not you personally. There are no personal guarantees needed and we don’t ask for any collateral over personal or business property.
Yes. We normally work directly with solicitors and can pay HMRC Inheritance Tax directly for you, which helps to keep the process as easy as possible.
That’s not a problem at all. With Provira, we don’t ask you to pay back the loan monthly, and we only charge simple interest, not compound interest, so you never need to worry about the loan spiralling out of control.
Once the estate is settled, you pay us back. This gives families flexibility if any part of the process takes longer than planned and prevents them from any quick or impulse decisions.
That’s not a problem. If the estate value turns out to be lower than expected, and the terms of the agreement have been followed, we won’t ask you to make up any shortfall personally.
Yes. Business estates often involve multiple executors or shareholders. We work with all named executors and solicitors to make sure the process is clear and agreed by all parties.
The Advance is normally repaid when the estate is settled and funds are released. The funds can come in from the sale of business assets, share sales or selling business property. There are no early repayment fees, so you can pay us back soon as you are ready.
Provira’s founding team and investors are experienced financial professionals, having successfully launched and invested in many innovative specialty finance businesses. We are passionate about building disruptive businesses that focus on benefiting the consumer. We’ve worked for and with some of the largest and most reputable financial institutions globally.