Bitcoin & Crypto Inheritance Tax Calculator (UK)

Estimate the UK inheritance tax (IHT) your family could face on your Bitcoin. The free interactive calculator above uses the live Bitcoin price and the 2025/26 rules to show what your estate might owe. Everything runs in your browser — your figures are never sent anywhere, and it never asks for addresses or keys.

Is Bitcoin subject to inheritance tax in the UK?

Yes. HMRC treats cryptoassets including Bitcoin as property. They form part of your estate and are valued at their market value on the date of death. If your total estate exceeds the available nil-rate bands, the excess is taxed at 40% (or 36% if at least 10% of the net estate is left to charity).

UK inheritance tax thresholds for 2025/26

  • Nil-rate band: £325,000 per person — the amount you can pass on tax-free.
  • Residence nil-rate band: up to £175,000 more when your main home passes to direct descendants (children or grandchildren).
  • Individual total: up to £500,000 tax-free; a married couple using both allowances can pass up to £1 million.
  • Rate: 40% on the amount above your allowances (36% if 10%+ of the net estate goes to charity).
  • Spouse exemption: transfers to a UK spouse or civil partner are exempt, but this defers the tax to the second death rather than cancelling it.
  • These thresholds are frozen until April 2031, so rising Bitcoin and property values pull more estates over the line each year.

Why Bitcoin makes inheritance tax harder

Inheritance tax is generally due within six months of death, before probate completes. If a large share of your estate is Bitcoin, your executors may be forced to sell it — at whatever the price is that day — simply to pay HMRC. And they can only sell it if they can actually access it, which is why a documented, verified recovery plan matters as much as the tax number itself.

This calculator is a simplified educational estimate. It does not account for lifetime gifts, trusts, business or agricultural relief, pensions, or non-UK domicile, and it is not tax, legal, or financial advice — always consult a qualified professional. See how Bitzo helps with crypto inheritance planning or check your Bitcoin inheritance readiness.