Farms worth more than about $1.3 million will face an estate tax from 2026, ending a previous exemption and prompting anger in some rural communities.

Thousands of farmers protested at Britain's parliament and some drove tractors through central London on Tuesday to demand the scrapping of an inheritance tax that they say will destroy family farms and threaten food production.

Under the government's proposals from April 2026 inheritance tax at 20%, half the usual rate of 40%, would apply on farm assets worth more than £1m. The Treasury said it would apply to around 500 farms a year. However, the National Farmers Union (NFU) has claimed up to 70,000 farms could be affected.

British farmers are descending on Parliament to protest a hike in inheritance tax that they say will deal a “hammer blow” to struggling family farms

Thousands of farmers have taken to the streets of London in a bid to overturn the UK government’s recent changes to inheritance tax rules that they say will kill off the family farm and threaten food security.

From April 2026, farms with a value of £1m+ will be subject to an inheritance tax of 20%. Read more