How IFAs Can Help Clients Pay IHT Without Selling Investments

Inheritance tax often needs to be paid before probate is granted. For clients without access to liquid funds – even those with multi-million-pound estates – that can be a problem. This guide explores how IFAs can help clients avoid selling investments, protect estate value, and access short-term estate funding to bridge the gap.

Steve Gauke: “Many people – including advisers – are unaware these solutions exist. Yet estate liquidity gaps are incredibly common, even among high-net-worth clients. Our role is to make bridging those gaps simple, fast and stress-free.”

John Sanderson: “Just because a client appears well off on paper, it does not mean they have access to cash. Advisers often underestimate how complex estates can become once probate begins.”

Even clients who appear financially secure on paper can find themselves temporarily stuck when timing and liquidity do not align. Wealth does not always mean cash is available – and the implications for inheritance tax, property chains, and investment planning can be significant.

Importantly, these liquidity problems often emerge unexpectedly. Executors, beneficiaries, and their advisers can be caught off guard by how slow it can be to access funds, especially when those funds are tied up in property or portfolios. The earlier an adviser can anticipate and plan for these potential gaps, the better the outcome for all parties involved.

These gaps are also increasingly relevant as more estates contain complex asset mixes, including company shares, international property, or tax-deferred investment vehicles. In such cases, the perceived wealth is high, but the accessibility of those funds – especially within the timeframe HMRC expects – can be very limited.

Being proactive in recognising where delays and shortfalls can arise is what separates reactive estate administration from strategic, client-first financial planning. And it’s in these moments that estate advances can be a powerful addition to the adviser’s toolkit.

Wealthy on Paper. Stuck in Practice.

A typical IFA client might not initially seem like someone who would need an estate advance. They may own property outright, have a diversified investment portfolio, and be supported by a team of legal and financial professionals. On the surface, there is no reason to assume they will face funding issues.

But wealth that is tied up in illiquid assets cannot be accessed immediately. Estates usually pass through a period of legal processing, known as probate. Even in simple cases, this can take four to eight weeks. In more complex estates – especially those with international elements, contested wills, or unusual asset holdings – probate can take several months or more.

Steve Gauke: “We see this every day – asset-rich families caught off guard by how hard it is to access funds quickly. It is not about poor planning. It is about the mismatch between legal process and financial reality.”

John Sanderson: “So often, advisers and families say: ‘I wish I’d known about this sooner.’ These funding issues can hit unexpectedly – and the earlier advisers act, the better the outcome.”

Meanwhile, HMRC expects inheritance tax to be paid within six months of the date of death. Often, this means paying tax before the grant of probate is issued. The result is a mismatch between the timing of liabilities and the availability of funds.

This gap can have knock-on consequences. Executors may struggle to settle debts. Beneficiaries might be left in limbo. Advisers may need to liquidate portfolios earlier than planned, which can result in tax liabilities, missed market gains, or disruption to long-term strategies.

In some situations, families are forced to rush property sales or sell under market value to raise funds quickly. In others, executors use personal borrowing to cover liabilities – something many advisers would naturally try to help their clients avoid. These solutions, while practical in the moment, are rarely optimal from a planning, reputational, or client-relationship perspective.

These are not rare situations – nor are they the result of bad planning. They reflect the friction between the legal process and the lived financial needs of the people involved. That’s where estate advances can help.

When Clients Need Estate Funding – Even if They’re Asset-Rich

Here are four scenarios where even high-net-worth clients benefit from access to short-term liquidity:

Steve Gauke: “Inheritance tax is the most common reason families need estate funding – but there are many more. We help cover legal costs, property works, or support beneficiaries facing financial pressure. What matters is speed, flexibility, and keeping the estate intact.”

John Sanderson: “Estate advances let advisers protect their client’s long-term strategy – avoiding fire sales, unnecessary tax liabilities, or rushed decisions under pressure.”

1. Paying Inheritance Tax Before Probate

An estate advance allows clients to avoid HMRC’s late payment interest (currently Bank of England base rate + 4%) while protecting the rest of the estate.

2. Preserving a Property Chain

A modest advance can cover required works, secure a deposit, or fund temporary accommodation – avoiding forced sales or missed opportunities.

3. Avoiding Early Asset Sales to Pay Inheritance Tax

Being forced to sell down a client’s holdings can result in suboptimal timing, CGT events, or loss of compounding value. An advance keeps the portfolio intact.

4. Supporting Family Members Before Probate Is Complete

Funds may be needed for living costs, care, debt repayment, estate maintenance or professional fees before probate completion.

[See how the referral process works]

Case Study: A £2M Estate, a £150,000 Tax Bill – and No Liquidity

One adviser referred a client whose father had passed away, leaving an estate valued at just over £2 million. The estate comprised property and investment holdings – but no accessible cash.

The family was facing a £150,000 inheritance tax bill with only weeks before HMRC’s deadline. Selling investments would have triggered gains and disrupted their wider financial plan. Selling property under time pressure would have meant accepting a discount – or potentially losing a buyer entirely.

Instead, the adviser introduced Provira. We advanced the funds, allowing the tax to be paid on time, protecting the estate’s value, and preserving the portfolio.

Steve Gauke: “We’ve helped hundreds of families in this exact situation. No liquidity. A looming IHT bill. An adviser spots the issue early – and we solve it quickly. That is when we make the biggest difference.”

The outcome: no forced sales, no reputational risk for the adviser, and a family that remained on course with their financial goals.

Why This Matters for Advisers

Steve Gauke: “This is not just good for the client – it is good for the adviser too. They offer a better service, preserve AUM, avoid disruption, and strengthen long-term relationships.”

John Sanderson: “Advisers want to be planning partners – not just product providers. Estate advances help them stay proactive, not reactive, when things get complicated.”

Estate advances allow advisers to support their clients when liquidity is the problem – not wealth. The benefit is twofold:

• It preserves the estate’s structure and long-term value
  
• It reinforces the adviser’s role as a planning partner – not just a product provider
  

Other benefits include:

• Avoiding disruption to portfolio performance and tax strategy
  
• Maintaining AUM and advisory income
  
• Offering timely, proactive solutions that deepen client trust
  
• Retaining assets through intergenerational transition
  
• Reducing the emotional burden on families during probate delays
  

Provira provides a compliance-ready process, clear documentation, and dedicated support throughout. We help advisers act confidently when these gaps emerge – and stay one step ahead of issues that can otherwise compromise the plan.

Signs an Advance May Be Suitable

You may want to explore an advance when:

• IHT is due and the estate has no cash
  
• Probate is delayed, and beneficiaries are exposed to financial stress
  
• Investments would need to be liquidated at a bad time
  
• Property chains or valuations are at risk without immediate funds
  
• The adviser’s plan would be compromised by premature action
  
• Family members are asking for interim support or early access to funds
  
• There’s pressure to release funds before probate is complete, for personal or business reasons
  

[Download the referral checklist]

Frequently Asked Questions from Advisers

What if my client can’t pay IHT before probate?

An estate advance gives them the funds to pay HMRC on time and avoid interest, without disrupting the estate plan.

Can an estate advance help preserve investments?

Yes. Clients avoid selling assets before maturity, at the wrong time, or in tax-inefficient ways.

Is this relevant for high-net-worth clients?

Absolutely. Many face estate liquidity gaps simply because their assets are not immediately accessible.

Will compliance approve this?

Provira provides all required documentation and supports a compliant, transparent referral process.

Final Thought: A Tool for Planning, Not a Sign of Distress

John Sanderson: “This is not distress finance – it is planning finance. Used proactively, it protects the adviser’s strategy and keeps the plan on track.”

Steve Gauke: “We do the heavy lifting. Our service is compliant, fast, and supportive. Most importantly, it helps advisers deliver when their clients need them most.”

[Refer a client]

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About Provira

Provira is the UK’s most established provider of inheritance and estate advances, trusted by hundreds of professional advisers. We’ve supported thousands of families, advancing £20,000 to over £1 million to help cover IHT, legal fees and personal needs—quickly, securely, and without personal guarantees or property charges. Our five-star Trustpilot rating reflects our commitment to transparent, compassionate support when it matters most.