The number of UK estates paying Inheritance Tax (IHT) increased by 15 percent in 2016/17 to 28,100.

According to official HMRC figures, the proportion of estates liable to IHT has been rising since the nil rate band was frozen in 2009.

In 2009 it stood at 2.6 percent, before rising to 4.2 percent in 2015/16 and 4.6 percent in 2016/17.

However, this is still below the peak in 2006/7 of 5.9 percent, which was the year before spouses could pass their inheritance tax nil rate bands on to one another.

In total, £5.4 billion was paid in IHT in 2018/19, representing a three percent from a year earlier, des...