LONDON, UK / ACCESS Newswire / October 13, 2026 / It is now law that, for deaths on or after 6 April 2027, most unused pension funds and pension death benefits will count as part of the estate for Inheritance Tax. The change is set out in the Finance Act 2026, which received Royal Assent in March.

While the headlines have focused on tax, the real change for most families is paperwork. Reporting those pensions to HMRC, and paying any tax due, will fall to the personal representatives, meaning the executors or relatives dealing with the estate. In its guidance on the changes, HMRC says they "should take reasonable steps to identify any pension schemes". In plain terms, the family is expected to find the pensions first.

That is harder than it sounds. Research published in 2024 by the Pensions Policy Institute found that almost 3.3 million UK pension pots are considered lost, worth £31.1 billion in total, or £9,470 each on average, often because of a job left decades ago, a house move or a provider that has changed its name.

"Very few people can list every pension they have joined since their first job," a spokesperson for My Estate Kit said. "From April 2027, that list is what their family will need."

HMRC says most estates will still owe no Inheritance Tax, but valuing an estate will mean knowing which pensions exist.

My Estate Kit says more than 20,000 UK families have already turned to its materials to get their affairs in order. Designed for England and Wales, the kit pairs a practical guide with a Family Folder, where a household records what exists, where the documents are kept and whom to contact.

The kit follows the 5-28-6 method, built on three windows: Secure, Notify and Settle. The first five days cover immediate priorities and documents, the first 28 days cover notifying organisations, and the first six months cover the administration of the estate. For pensions, the Family Folder has space for each provider and scheme reference, where the paperwork is kept, a call script and a notification tracker, so a relative can go from finding a name to making the call.

The business is rated 4.6 out of 5 on Trustpilot. The Essential edition costs £29 as a one-off purchase, delivered by email and printable at home. It does not replace a will or professional advice.

Only the person who built up the pensions knows for certain where they all are, and that only helps a family if it is written down. The starting point is small: writing down one pension provider, locating one important document and telling a trusted person where it is kept.

The Essential edition is available at My Estate Kit.

About My Estate Kit

My Estate Kit publishes practical guides and document kits that help families in England and Wales organise the information relatives need after a death. Its 5-28-6 method sets out three planning windows: the first five days, the first 28 days and the first six months. These are planning stages, not legal deadlines. The Essential edition costs £29 and is delivered digitally.

Media Contact

Raphael
raphael@myestatekit.co.uk

SOURCE: My Estate Kit