America is wondering how things are going with the Farmers

Has the inheritance tax been approved? Will it ruin family farms?

Were the farmers jailed that drove their tractors into the city?

I come from a farm community in the U.S. My dad built John Deere tractors for over 40 years

He had a couple years off when he fought the Nazis in Italy.

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SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

The inheritance tax was approved in 1985. All that is happening now is that the 100% agricultural property relief that farmers previously enjoyed will be cut to 50% for assets above £1m (the precise calculation depends upon matrimonial circumstances). This will become effective from April 2026.

Celebrity "farmers" such as Jeremy Clarkson will hopefully stop burying their wealth in agricultural land and the price of land will start to fall to levels that can be afforded by young farmers seeking to establish their own enterprises.

DogMan · 61-69, M

@SunshineGirl Thank you for the answer. Why were farmers driving tractors into the city last year?
Have any of them lost their farms after a parent dies?

I heard that they have to pay 500k to the government when they lose a parent. Is that true?

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@DogMan Professions that can easily be illustrated in a childrens picture book (farming, fishing, firefighting, nursing, etc) tend to gather a lot of public support. There is less disagreement over the fairness of the proposal than the relative short notice which will give some less time to rearrange their estates.

Most farmers currently pay nothing due to the relief, so no. Inheritance tax is solely on the value of inherited assets. On family farms it can easily be avoided by gifting assets to the next generation before death, or using large farmhouses as multi-generational homes (no tax is due on a principal residence).

That is not to say that our farmers are not under a lot of economic pressure in terms of increased costs, falling prices, volatile international trade. Our government could do much more to support them with a coherent agricultural policy post-Brexit.

Uhohuhoh · 56-60, C

@SunshineGirl spot on . And the same has been done to business property relief so the same for all business owners not just farmers .

DogMan · 61-69, M

@SunshineGirl So is peace and prosperity the standard fare in the UK? Are most people happy with the way
it is being run?

Is the Muslim community making it better?

SunshineGirl · 36-40, F

@DogMan What on earth does that statement have to do with inheritance tax?