RSM UK Urges Government to Link Pensions Dashboards with IHT to Protect Bereaved Families

RSM UK is calling for the government to integrate executor access into the upcoming pensions dashboard to prevent families from falling foul of new tax rules. From April 2027, unused pension pots will be subject to Inheritance Tax, creating a significant administrative burden for executors tasked with identifying lost assets within a strict six-month window.

What was announced

As Pensions Awareness Week approaches, running from September 14 to 18, RSM UK has highlighted a critical gap in the UK’s retirement infrastructure. The firm argues that the government’s pensions dashboard programme must be leveraged to help bereaved families identify the pension assets of deceased relatives. This follows the announcement that, starting 6 April 2027, Inheritance Tax (IHT) will be applied to any unused pension pots belonging to the deceased.

According to data from the Pensions Policy Institute, there is an estimated £31.1 billion currently sitting in unused pension pots across the UK, with an average value of nearly £10,000 per pot. Under current regulations, the executor of a will is responsible for ensuring the correct amount of IHT is paid on these assets within six months of a person’s death. Failure to meet this deadline results in interest charges from HMRC on the outstanding balance, which can mount up to significant sums on larger pension pots.

The challenge for fintech and tax professionals lies in the fragmented nature of the pensions market. Most individuals hold multiple pensions throughout their careers, making it difficult for grieving families to locate every account. RSM UK suggests a joined-up approach between the dashboard’s launch and IHT policy to allow executors to view all unused pots, thereby simplifying the probate process and ensuring compliance with the six-month payment window.

"Now is the ideal time for the government to apply some joined up thinking ahead of the pensions dashboard launch. Probate is already a complex and unwieldy process, which can create additional stress for families at an upsetting time. As IHT could be due on unused pension pots from April 2027, this adds yet more complexity. We’d like to see the government build in the ability for executors of wills to see all unused pension pots via the dashboard. This could simplify the probate process, enabling grieving families to meet the deadline to pay inheritance tax within six months of a relative’s death."

Andrew Aston, pensions audit director at RSM UK.

The companies involved

RSM UK is a major provider of audit, tax, and consulting services to middle-market leaders globally. The firm operates as part of the wider RSM network, focusing on helping businesses and individuals navigate complex regulatory environments, including the UK’s evolving tax and pension landscape. Andrew Aston serves as the pensions audit director within the firm, overseeing compliance and advisory for pension schemes.

The Pensions Policy Institute (PPI) is an independent educational charity which provides non-political, evidence-based research on all aspects of pensions and retirement provision. Its data on the £31.1 billion in "lost" or unused pension pots provides the statistical foundation for the current debate over IHT reform. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is the UK’s tax, payments, and customs authority. It is responsible for collecting the money that pays for the UK’s public services and helping families and individuals with targeted financial support. HMRC will be the body enforcing the 2027 IHT changes and levying interest on late payments.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has previously explored the challenges of identifying lost financial assets and the role of technology in asset consolidation. In August 2026, we reported on how Aegon’s Mylo Recovers £250 Million in Lost Pensions Using Raindrop Technology, highlighting the massive scale of the consolidation problem. The issue of forgotten funds extends beyond pensions; FF News also covered how the FCA Warns Students Over £1.5Bn in Forgotten Child Trust Funds. These reports underscore a recurring theme in the UK financial sector: the difficulty of tracking long-term assets across multiple providers and the increasing necessity for automated discovery tools.

What this means

The inclusion of pension pots in the IHT net transforms the pensions dashboard from a consumer engagement tool into a critical piece of tax compliance infrastructure. For the fintech sector, this creates immediate pressure on dashboard providers and pension administrators to ensure data accuracy and accessibility for third parties like executors. The current fragmentation of the UK pension market is a significant hurdle; if the government fails to provide a centralized view for probate, the resulting interest charges from HMRC will likely spark a backlash against the 2027 policy. The industry must now consider whether existing "pension finder" technologies can be integrated into the state-led dashboard to meet this looming deadline.