Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average time taken was for an IHT30 certificate to be issued in the latest period for which data is available; and how many cases were waiting for an IHT30 certificate to be issued on 1 August 2025.

HMRC do not measure the average time taken for an IHT30 certificate to be issued. HMRC have a service standard to process 80% of IHT30 certificates within 15 working days.

HMRC have prioritised the processing of IHT400 forms to minimise any delays for customers applying for probate through HM Courts & Tribunals Service. Customers do not need an IHT30 certificate to distribute assets to beneficiaries.

HMRC have trained and deployed additional staff to work on inheritance tax, and are investing £52m to digitalise the Inheritance Tax service from 2027-28 to provide a modern, easy-to-use system, making returns and paying tax simpler and quicker.