Yes, you must declare any inheritance to Centrelink within 14 days of receiving it, as it's treated as a lump sum that counts towards your assets and income (via deeming rules), potentially affecting payments like the Age Pension, but using it to pay off your main home or renovate it can be exempt. Failure to report can lead to large debts and penalties, so it's crucial to tell them, even if you plan to spend it quickly.
Reporting an inheritance to Centrelink can be done through several channels:
Your beneficiaries (the people who inherit your estate) do not normally pay tax on things they inherit. They may have related taxes to pay, for example if they get rental income from a house left to them in a will.
Centrelink treats an inheritance as a gift and applies the assets and income test to this money to determine eligibility for the Age Pension.
Receiving inheritance can greatly impact a person's ability to receive means-tested benefits. Therefore, estate planning and will making is important for people who wish to leave money to someone who is in receipt of means-tested benefits, so as to avoid the complete loss of benefits.
In general, any inheritance you receive does not need to be reported to the IRS. You typically don't need to report inheritance money to the IRS because inheritances aren't considered taxable income by the federal government. That said, earnings made off of the inheritance may need to be reported.
If you have money, savings and investments between £6,000 and £16,000 your Universal Credit payments will be reduced. Your payments will be reduced by £4.35 for every £250 you have between £6,000 and £16,000. Another £4.35 is taken off for any remaining amount that is not a complete £250.
Reporting Obligation: You must notify Centrelink within 14 days of receiving an inheritance. Failure to do so can lead to overpayments that must be repaid, and potential penalties. Asset Test: An inheritance (cash, property, shares) will increase your total assessable assets.
What to do with an inheritance
So, if you want to boost your pension with an inheritance, reviewing your contributions over the last few years could mean you make the most of your Annual Allowance. If you have already taken an income from your pension or you are a high earner, your Annual Allowance may be lower.
While state laws differ for inheritance taxes, an inheritance must exceed a certain threshold to be considered taxable. For federal estate taxes as of 2024, if the total estate is under $13.61 million for an individual or $27.22 million for a married couple, there's no need to worry about estate taxes.
You will have to disclose your inheritance on Form E. That doesn't mean the inheritance will be shared – if the matrimonial assets are enough to meet everyone's needs fairly, then the inheritance may remain with the recipient. However, failure to disclose can land you legal trouble.
Many states assess an inheritance tax. That means that you, as the beneficiary, will have to pay taxes when you receive an inheritance. How much you'll be assessed depends on the state you live in, the size of your inheritance, the types of assets included, and your relationship with the deceased.
When someone dies, tax will normally be paid from their estate before any money is distributed to their heirs. Usually when you inherit something, there's no tax to pay immediately but you might have to pay tax later. Here's a guide on what tax you need to pay and when.
$500,000 is a big inheritance. It could have a significant impact on your financial situation, depending on how it is managed and utilized. As you can see here, there are many complex, moving parts involving several financial disciplines.
Sometimes, what to do with an inheritance is as much about what you should not do with your inheritance money.
The 7 year rule
No tax is due on any gifts you give if you live for 7 years after giving them - unless the gift is part of a trust. This is known as the 7 year rule.
What is the best thing to do with a cash inheritance?
So can inheriting a property mean that you lose your benefits? There are two types of benefits: means-tested benefits and non means-tested benefits. If you inherit a property, it is highly likely that it will affect any means-tested benefits you receive.
Income Tax
Federal tax laws do not consider most inherited assets to be taxable income. This means that when an individual inherits assets, whether in the form of cash, stocks, real estate, or other valuable properties, the assets are not subject to federal income taxes at the time of transfer.
We need to know the gross income you and your partner get so we can pay you the right amount. Gross income is the amount you get before tax and other deductions. If your income changes, even by a small amount, you need to tell us.
Deposits over $10,000 are treated a little differently by banks because of a law called the Bank Secrecy Act. Under this law, when you make a cash deposit of $10,000 or more, the bank is required to file a Currency Transaction Report (CTR). The CTR needs to include: The name of the person who is making the deposit.
You can have a significant amount in the bank and still get a full Australian Age Pension, as it depends on your total assessable assets (not just cash), living situation (homeowner/non-homeowner) and relationship status, with homeowner singles getting a full pension under the assets test with assets below approximately $321,500, while couples need under $481,500 (as of late 2025 figures), with higher limits for non-homeowners before payments reduce or stop. The pension reduces as assets increase past these thresholds, with higher cut-offs for receiving any part pension.
No. The State Pension is not means‑tested. This means your savings do not affect whether you receive the State Pension or how much you get. However, many pensioners receive additional support on top of the State Pension.