A growing number of people are realising that investing in small unlisted companies can be an effective way of passing on wealth and reducing their Inheritance Tax bills, private equity investment firm Growthdeck has claimed.

The amount of tax relief claimed on investments in unlisted companies and other business assets passed on in estates jumped 64 percent last year to £1.4 billion, up from £828 million the year before.

However, according to Growthdeck, not enough people are aware of how this tax relief can be used as part of Inheritance Tax (IHT) planning. This lack of awareness means many people are paying much mo...