inheritance tax allowance for married couples is already £600,000 providing they arrange their wills accordingly. does he think everyone is as stupid as he looks?

philip smith, seaford,

Inheritance Tax Threshold unchanged. I'm not keen on voting for insurance salesmen who try to convince me to buy something I don't need. Does the Labour government really believe the UK population is this stupid? Or perhaps just their voters.

A M, london, uk

I must be a little dim asI am still puzzled by the new allowance on IT.At present no tax is payable on the first death between husband and wife so does the new measures mean that on the second death there is now £600,000 free of duty instead of £300.000?

Alan Barrett, Leatherhead , UK

I've read several newspaper articles on this supposed IHT level increase but I'm still confused as to what it really means. Having seen previous Gordon Brown and Labour scams that appeared to give something back but in reality didn't , I'm very skeptical on what has been announced here. If Mr. Darling can't come out and say in plain English that death duty starts at 600k it smells just as fishy as his savings protection he announced after the Northern Rock fiasco. Likewise tax credit increases are irrelevant when the basic pension level needs to be raised. Simply put, Darlings announcement is vague, he doesn't say when it will come into force, and its a pathetic attempt to defuse the Tories clear announcement about a straight 1 million threshold for IHT. Any Labour supporter should wait a while before rejoicing too much as with Labour its all in the detail and that detail is always obscure, buried very deep and the headlines rarely comes to fruition.

Mike, Alicante, Spain

As a single parent with and estate worth more than 300k, this is very unfair. Divorced parents living alone in the family home have a struggle to keep everything running as it is; making sacrifices, going back to work. Just because I haven't remarried and don't want to live with anyone, why should my children be penalised?

L Paine Bishops Stortford

Lesley Paine, Bishops Stortford, United Kingdom

I wonder about the additionality of this. Take my mother's case, for example. SHe set up a nil-rate band trust when my father died a few years back (value to 250,000 pounds). So, am I to assume that the level of the applicable exemption of the estate is 600,000 or 300,000+ 300,000 +250,000 ? I am absolutely confused.

Keith, London, UK

Is the inheritance tax announcement similar to the income tax deal smoke and mirrors that left the poorly paid worse off? Married couples already have a £600,000 allowance if they make a will. So what is new other than not having to make a will. Assuming there is some substance to this does it mean that when a spouse dies in a marriage they can pass on £600,000 to dependants other than surviving partner. What then happens when the survivor dies? Can they leave another £600,000, or is their a single persons allowance of £300,000 yet to be left? Seems clear as mud. If the above is the case the sums are pretty close to the Conservatives £1,000,000. That would never do would it?

jimd, Norwich, uk

This inheritance tax announcement is a con. Under the old regime: let us take a couple worth £600,000. The husband dies and leaves his half, i.e.£300,000, o their son who incurs no tax liability on the bequest. One year later the wife dies and leave her half,i.e £300,000,to their son who incurs no tax liability on the bequest. The couple have used their existing 'joint relief' of £600,000. No trusts, just a little planning involved.

Can someone please tell me what Darling is giving away except a little more simplicity in how the affairs of older people are managed?

Tom Read, Colchester,