Passing the torch: Is now the time to gift the family farm?

The question of when to pass down the family farm to the next generation is often a difficult one to answer. With many aspects to consider, it’s easy to see why it’s a topic often avoided by those in farming families. However, having a plan in place is the most effective way to safeguard the future of your farm and ensure a smooth transition when the time comes to hand over the reins.

A common query from Brachers’ clients is whether a gift should be made during lifetime or otherwise left until death, and timing is an important factor to consider. Handing over significant assets too soon can cause difficulties for a number of reasons. For example, is the recipient truly committed to pursuing the family business/trade? What are the tax consequences; might the gift inadvertently trigger a charge to Capital Gains Tax (CGT) or leave an unpalatable exposure to Inheritance Tax (IHT)?

Nevertheless, there might still be good reason for considering gifting some or all of the family farm or farm business sooner rather than later. A legal advisor can help you assess the financial implications of the timing of your gifting, as well as advise on the discussions you need to have with your family around the broader succession planning process.

More broadly, we are all aware of the uncertainty surrounding the future of farming. Could this uncertainty be an opportunity to accelerate succession plans? Here are a few things to consider:

Land value

Timing the gift when land and property prices are lower can be tax efficient.  Gifting at this time could mean that the value of the gift that lingers in your estate for the next seven years is lower than the value that it might be at any point during that period. With a new Government in power, possible tax changes, particularly to Capital Gains Tax, would potentially stagnate the market and lower prices. It is useful to be alert to this opportunity if the property market does take a fall.

The impact of a new Government on agricultural reliefs

It would be sensible to consider taking advantage of IHT reliefs such as Agricultural Property Relief (APR) and Business Property Relief (BPR) whilst these reliefs are still as favourable as they are.  Before it was disbanded, The Office of Tax Simplification (OTS) made recommendations that may make IHT reliefs, particularly BPR, harder to achieve. With a new Government potentially eyeing up changes to increase tax revenue, it may be prudent to take advantage of the current window.

Innovation and Diversification

Post Brexit changes mean the agricultural sector has seen a need to diversify income streams and innovate farming practises to maximise income. Innovation is likely to be critical to success and therefore needs to be encouraged. What better way to do so than to incentivise the next generation by giving them ownership and control of decision making? Gifting to the next generation, may well incentivise innovation to help the continuation of long-standing family businesses for years and generations to come.

There are, therefore, many reasons why now might well be a good time to consider passing on the family farm to the next generation. Any proposal to do so, needs however, to be carefully considered in order to ensure that problems do not arise.

As with any gift, a balance needs to be struck between giving and retaining sufficient means for the future so as not to leave yourself short. It will be important to avoid inadvertently triggering a charge to tax if the gift is not given in the appropriate way. That said, gifting is certainly something which should, in the present climate, be considered given so much uncertainty about the future. It is always recommended that professional advice is taken when considering any sort of gift.

This article was first published in the September 2024 edition of South East Farmer.

This content is correct at time of publication