An inductive power transfer system comprises a transmitter circuit comprising a transmitter coil and a receiver circuit comprising a receiver coil spaced from the transmitter coil. The transmitter circuit is in the form of a Class E amplifier with a first inductor and a transistor in series between the terminals of a power supply. A first transmitter capacitance is in parallel with the transistor between the first inductor and a power supply terminal, a primary tank circuit in parallel with the first transmitter capacitance, the primary tank circuit comprising the transmitter coil and a second transmitter capacitance arranged in parallel with the transmitter coil, and a third transmitter capacitance in series with the first inductor between the first transmitter capacitance and the primary tank circuit. The second transmitter capacitance is selected such that a resonant frequency of the primary tank circuit is not equal to the first frequency.