Works of art and other heritage objects worth more than £100 million were accepted by the Westminster Government instead of tax over a five-year period, new figures show.
Between 2009 and 2013, items valuing £124.5m were handed over under arrangements that allow taxpayers to reduce the amount they are required to pay.
The numbers emerged from a Parliamentary question asked by Labour MP Andrew Smith, who wanted to know the total value of art works accepted in lieu of inheritance tax in each of the last five years.
Under the Acceptance-in-Lieu scheme, the full open-market value of the item is deducted from the taxpayer's liability.
The item is then allocated to a public museum, archive or library.
Culture minister Ed Vaizey said that under the scheme the Government had received pieces worth £19.8m in 2009, £15.7m in 2010 and £8.3m in 2011.
In 2012, the total value jumped to £31.3m and in 2013 it increased again, to £49.4m.
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