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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think it’s unfair that some people get inheritance while others start with nothing?

821 replies

ThisCandidCritic · 06/02/2025 14:22

Isn’t inheritance just another way of keeping wealth in the hands of the privileged? AIBU to think we should heavily tax or abolish inheritances altogether?

OP posts:
cramptramp · 06/02/2025 15:41

I didn't get a penny from either parent. But I think people who do are really lucky and I don't begrudge them. I'm against inheritance tax. It's another unfair tax.

WhiteLily1 · 06/02/2025 15:41

You Sound about 14 OP. Grow up.

yakamoza · 06/02/2025 15:42

is this a rage-baiting thread 🤔

Yes, and everyone is duly raging regardless of the side of the fence they are on 😁

Cerial · 06/02/2025 15:42

ThisCandidCritic · 06/02/2025 14:22

Isn’t inheritance just another way of keeping wealth in the hands of the privileged? AIBU to think we should heavily tax or abolish inheritances altogether?

Nice try. You are such a fake post.

coldcallerbaiter · 06/02/2025 15:43

It is unfair that people inherit their parents ugly genes, or their genetic illness too,

Sleepishues · 06/02/2025 15:43

I absolutely agree that I want to be able to leave anything I can to my children but agree completely it keeps certain people endlessly wealthy and cringe also when I know that’s how some people have money but they pretend it’s just down to their own “hard work”. But life being unfair is a certainty op.

IkeaJesusChrist · 06/02/2025 15:43

And how pray tell, would you abolish inheritance?

Life's a bitch.

876543A · 06/02/2025 15:44

My DP, one of the hardest workers I know, received nothing from either parent. He had to live independently from the age of 16. Gave him a fierce work ethic and he went on to be very successful and runs his own business. I don't think he would have had that fire in him had he had a comfortable start in life. The hand you are dealt is all about how you play it.

irregularegular · 06/02/2025 15:46

I absolutely agree with you. It's a large and growing source of inequality and I would like to see a much larger part of wealth redistributed after death.

I'd like to see inheritances treated as income by the recipients, spread over eg 5 years and then taxed according to income tax band.

My parents left an estate that was just below the tax level (after the domestic property allowance) and I think it was very unfair that we received it without paying any tax. We expect to have a larger estate ourselves to pass onto our children (depending on care home costs etc) and I think we/they should may signficant tax. It just seems obviously right to me.

And no, before anyone suggests it, I'm not going to pay that tax unilaterally as that would be a drop in the ocean and the whole cost would fall on me! But I would very happily do it if everyone else was required to ie I would vote for it in a referendum.

Definitelynotme2022 · 06/02/2025 15:47

HebeHerbivore · 06/02/2025 14:28

My parents were fairly poor, not privileged at all and worked bloody hard to own their own home and paid taxes all their lives, damn right they passed it onto us when they died. We will do the same to our children when the time comes.

This.... This is exactly what happened with my parents. I hardly saw my df as a child because he was gone to work when I got up and I was in bed when he got home. Plus the extended overseas trips.

They also were able to pay for their own care when they needed - £1,300 a week for a live in carer, never cashed in the cheques for the cold weather payments and had at least operations privately instead of on the NHS. They were also very careful with their money so that there was something for my ds and I.

yakamoza · 06/02/2025 15:49

And how pray tell, would you abolish inheritance?

Presumably by forcing people to surrender everything they have left after they are gone to the state, the crown or those on benefits but not their kids/other heirs. 😉

BigBoysDontCry · 06/02/2025 15:51

It's like the wolf and the 3 pigs. The pig who spent his time and money building a house with bricks, whilst still contributing to the straw and sticks the other pigs used, should have his house taken and given to the pig whose straw house blew down? Regardless of the fact that the straw pig spent his time spending brick pigs money on enjoying himself.

Now I'm not saying that there shouldn't be equality of opportunity and that some folk have a hard life because of their parents, but come on, you are looking to punish the wrong people.

It's tax evaders that I think the general ire should directed towards and successive govt of both varieties mismanaging and choosing the wrong priorities.

loopyluloopy · 06/02/2025 15:53

ArcticBells · 06/02/2025 14:23

I suspect you might think differently if you were on the receiving end!

This

OutsideLookingOut · 06/02/2025 15:53

Yes it is not fair.
It is not fair some people are born smarter, or more beautiful or more healthy. It isn't fair that some people will face bullying, sexual abuse or racism.

From that knowledge however I have a different take on it - only bring children into the world if you think they can have a fighting chance because not only is it not fair but it never will be and people will fight to keep what advantages (fair or unfair that they have).

Angrymum22 · 06/02/2025 15:54

We had DS in our early 40s so won’t be around as long as other parents. He will benefit from his inheritance but it won’t replace the benefit of having us around. I lost my parents in my early 30s no amount of inheritance has replaced their being here.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 06/02/2025 15:54

Thedisconnect · 06/02/2025 14:28

Exactly, do you leave your money to the state? What a daft post. Where's the incentive for anyone to work hard??

You don't work hard to build up a stash to leave to family.

You work hard to get an income allowing you to have a good life - holidays, pets, experiences etc.

I'm not planning on dying with money in the bank. I'm hoping to enjoy any money before I go. You can't take it with you.

Eightdayz · 06/02/2025 15:54

Not all wealth comes from privilege. My parents worked bloody hard to attain their wealth. IF I get any part of it when they die I won't feel a jot of guilt because THEY EARNED IT.

You sound extremely bitter op.

Brooomhilda · 06/02/2025 15:54

If you worked your whole life to build wealth from scratch so that your children would have an easier life... wouldn't you want to be allowed to give it to them?

Hell no to working so that the government can take everything you've built once you die.

Wemaybebetterstrangers · 06/02/2025 15:55

I’m afraid you’ll have to get used to it. Some people are richer than you.

Kuretake · 06/02/2025 15:57

It's like the wolf and the 3 pigs. The pig who spent his time and money building a house with bricks, whilst still contributing to the straw and sticks the other pigs used, should have his house taken and given to the pig whose straw house blew down? Regardless of the fact that the straw pig spent his time spending brick pigs money on enjoying himself.

Sorry I'm lost - who is the inheriting party in this scenario? Is that straw pig spending his parents' money?

CaravaggiosCat · 06/02/2025 15:57

Hahaha... Please come back and confirm where my money should go when I die.

OutsideLookingOut · 06/02/2025 15:57

Congratulations on the excellent selection of your parents. See while I think the OP's solution is wrong I perfectly understand how she feels. Imagine if your parents worked hard and were unable to make any significant money or if they just didn't work hard at all. Perfectly understandable to be bitter, I don't even get why that is an insult. Unless you chose your family...

Ponderingwindow · 06/02/2025 15:58

The bigger issue is surely money spent during childhood and the early adult years. That foundation lets people more easily enter the job market at a certain level and perpetuates socioeconomic status across generations.

Summerbay23 · 06/02/2025 16:00

Both my parents and in-laws left school at between 14 and 18 with no family money in the background. They’ve worked hard, cut their cloth accordingly, yes they’ve been lucky in terms of the time they bought houses etc but they didn’t have any help. Neither have we for that matter but I’m working hard and have spent wisely so why shouldn’t I pass on a little to my kids if I’m lucky enough (I could spend it on a bigger house, more holidays, newer cars, private health care, beauty treatments but I’d rather save for a rainy day or pass on if I can).

SaltyPig · 06/02/2025 16:00

HRTFT, let me guess...you stand to inherit nothing and if a long lost uncle leaves you millions you're handing it to a cat's home.