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Capital Transfer Tax Act 1984

Status:

This is the original version (as it was originally enacted).

PART VMiscellaneous Reliefs

CHAPTER IBusiness Property

103Preliminary

(1)In this Chapter references to a transfer of value include references to an occasion on which tax is chargeable under Chapter III of Part III of this Act (apart from section 79), and

(a)references to the value transferred by a transfer of value include references to the amount on which tax is then chargeable, and

(b)references to the transferor include references to the trustees of the settlement concerned.

(2)For the purposes of this Chapter a company and all its subsidiaries are members of a group, and " holding company " and " subsidiary " have the same meanings as in the [1948 c. 38.] Companies Act 1948.

(3)In this Chapter " business " includes a business carried on in the exercise of a profession or vocation, but does not include a business carried on otherwise than for gain.

104The relief

(1)Where the whole or part of the value transferred by a transfer of value is attributable to the value of any relevant business property, the whole or that part of the value transferred shall be treated as reduced—

(a)in the case of property falling within section 105(1)(c) or (b) below, by 50 per cent;

(b)in the case of other relevant business property, by 30 per cent;

but subject to the following provisions of this Chapter.

(2)For the purposes of this section, the value transferred by a transfer of value shall be calculated as a value on which no tax is chargeable.

105Relevant business property

(1)Subject to the following provisions of this section and to sections 106, 108, 112(3) and 113 below, in this Chapter " relevant business property " means, in relation to any transfer of value,—

(a)property consisting of a business or interest in a business ;

(b)shares in or securities of a company which (either by themselves or together with other such shares or securities owned by the transferor) gave the transferor control of the company immediately before the transfer;

(c)shares in a company which do not fall within paragraph (b) above and are not quoted on a recognised stock exchange;

(d)any land or building, machinery or plant which, immediately before the transfer, was used wholly or mainly for the purposes of a business carried on by a company of which the transferor then had control or by a partnership of which he then was a partner ; and

(e)any land or building, machinery or plant which, immediately before the transfer, was used wholly or mainly for the purposes of a business carried on by the transferor and was settled property in which he was then beneficially entitled to an interest in possession.

(2)Shares in or securities of a company do not fall within subsection (1)(b) above if—

(a)they would not have been sufficient, without other property, to give the transferor control of the company immediately before the transfer, and

(b)their value is taken by virtue of section 176 below to be less than the value previously determined.

(3)A business or interest in a business, or shares in or securities of a company, are not relevant business property if the business or, as the case may be, the business carried on by the company consists wholly or mainly of one or more of the following, that is to say, dealing in securities, stocks or shares, land or buildings or making or holding investments.

(4)Subsection (3) above—

(a)does not apply to any property if the business concerned is that of a jobber (as defined in section 477 of the Taxes Act) or discount house and is carried on in the United Kingdom, and

(b)does not apply to shares in or securities of a company if the business of the company consists wholly or mainly in being a holding company of one or more companies whose business does not fall within that subsection.

(5)Shares in or securities of a company are not relevant business property in relation to a transfer of value if at the time of the transfer a winding-up order has been made in respect of the company or the company has passed a resolution for voluntary winding-up or is otherwise in process of liquidation, unless the business of the company is to continue to be carried on after a reconstruction or amalgamation and the reconstruction or amalgamation either is the purpose of the winding-up or liquidation or takes place not later than one year after the transfer of value.

(6)Land, a building, machinery or plant owned by the transferor and used wholly or mainly for the purposes of a business carried on as mentioned in subsection (1)(d) or (e) above is not relevant business property in relation to a transfer of value, unless the business or the transferor's interest in it is, or shares or securities of the company carrying on the business immediately before the transfer are, relevant business property in relation to the transfer.

106Minimum period of ownership

Property is not relevant business property in relation to a transfer of value unless it was owned by the transferor throughout the two years immediately preceding the transfer.

107Replacements

(1)Property shall be treated as satisfying the condition in section 106 above if—

(a)it replaced other property and it, that other property and any property directly or indirectly replaced by that other property were owned by the transferor for periods which together comprised at least two years falling within the five years immediately preceding the transfer of value, and

(b)any other property concerned was such that, had the transfer of value been made immediately before it was replaced, it would (apart from section 106) have been relevant business property in relation to the transfer.

(2)In a case falling within subsection (1) above relief under this Chapter shall not exceed what it would have been had the replacement or any one or more of the replacements not been made.

(3)For the purposes of subsection (2) above changes resulting from the formation, alteration or dissolution of a partnership, or from the acquisition of a business by a company controlled by the former owner of the business, shall be disregarded.

(4)Subsection (1) above does not apply to shares falling within section 105(1)(c) above; but where such shares owned by the transferor immediately before the transfer would under any of the provisions of sections 77 to 86 of the [1979 c. 14.] Capital Gains Tax Act 1979 be identified with other shares previously owned by him his period of ownership of the first-mentioned shares shall be treated for the purposes of section 106 above as including his period of ownership of the other shares.

108Successions

For the purposes of sections 106 and 107 above, where the transferor became entitled to any property on the death of another person—

(a)he shall be deemed to have owned it from the date of the death, and

(b)if that other person was his spouse he shall also be deemed to have owned it for any period during which the spouse owned it.

109Successive transfers

(1)Where—

(a)the whole or part of the value transferred by a transfer of value (in this section referred to as the earlier transfer) was eligible for relief under this Chapter (or would have been so eligible if such relief had been capable of being given in respect of transfers of value made at that time), and

(b)the whole or part of the property which, in relation to the earlier transfer, was relevant business property became, through the earlier transfer, the property of the person or of the spouse of the person who is the transferor in relation to a subsequent transfer of value, and

(c)that property or part, or any property directly or indirectly replacing it, would (apart from section 106 above) have been relevant business property in relation to the subsequent transfer of value, and

(d)either the earlier transfer was, or the subsequent transfer of value is, a transfer made on the death of the transferor, the property which would have been relevant business property but for section 106 above shall be relevant business property notwithstanding that section.

(2)Where the property which, by virtue of subsection (1) above, is relevant business property replaced the property or part referred to in paragraph (c) of that subsection, relief under this Chapter shall not exceed what it would have been had the replacement or any one or more of the replacements not been made, but section 107(3) above shall apply with the necessary modifications for the purposes of this subsection.

(3)Where, under the earlier transfer, the amount of the value transferred which was attributable to the property or part referred to in subsection (1)(c) above was part only of its value, a like part only of the value which (apart from this subsection) would fall to be reduced under this Chapter by virtue of this section shall be so reduced.

110Value of business

For the purposes of this Chapter—

(a)the value of a business or of an interest in a business shall be taken to be its net value ;

(b)the net value of a business is the value of the assets used in the business (including goodwill)-, reduced by the aggregate amount of any liabilities" incurred for the purposes of the business ;

(c)in ascertaining the net value of an interest in a business, no regard shall be had to assets or liabilities other than those by reference to which the net value of the entire business would fall to be ascertained.

111Value of certain shares and securities

Where a company is a member of a group and the business of any other company which is a member of the group falls within section 105(3) above, then, unless either—

(a)that business also falls within section 105(4), or

(b)that business consists wholly or mainly in the holding of land or buildings wholly or mainly occupied by members of the group whose business either does not fall within section 105(3) or falls within both section 105(3) and section 105(4),

the value of shares in or securities of the company shall be taken for the purposes of this Chapter to be what it would be if that other company were not a member of the group.

112Exclusion of value of excepted assets

(1)In determining for the purposes of this Chapter what part of the value transferred by a transfer of value is attributable to the value of any relevant business property so much of the last-mentioned value as is attributable to any excepted assets within the meaning of subsection (2) below shall be left out of account.

(2)An asset is an excepted asset in relation to any relevant business property if it was neither—

(a)used wholly or mainly for the purposes of the business concerned throughout the whole or the last two years of the relevant period defined in subsection (5) below, nor

(b)required at the time of the transfer for future use for those purposes;

but where the business concerned is carried on by a company which is a member of a group, the use of an asset for the purposes of a business carried on by another company which at the time of the use and immediately before the transfer was also a member of that group shall be treated as use for the purposes of the business concerned, unless that other company's membership of the group falls to be disregarded under section 111 above.

(3)Subsection (2) above does not apply in relation to an asset which is relevant business property by virtue only of section 105(1)(d) above, and an asset is not relevant business property by virtue only of that provision unless either—

(a)it was used as mentioned in that provision throughout the two years immediately preceding the transfer of value, or

(b)it replaced another asset so used and it and the other asset and any asset directly or indirectly replaced by that other asset were so used for periods which together comprised at least two years falling within the five years immediately preceding the transfer of value ;

but in a case where section 109 above applies this condition shall be treated as satisfied if the asset (or it and the asset or assets replaced by it) was or were so used throughout the period between the earlier and the subsequent transfer mentioned in that section (or throughout the part of that period during which it or they were owned by the transferor or the transferor's spouse).

(4)Where part but not the whole of any land or building is used exclusively for the purposes of any business and the land or building would, but for this subsection, be an excepted asset, or, as the case may be, prevented by subsection (3) above from being relevant business property, the part so used and the remainder shall for the purposes of this section be treated as separate assets, and the value of the part so used shall (if it would otherwise be less) be taken to be such proportion of the value of the whole as may be just.

(5)For the purposes of this section the relevant period, in relation to any asset, is the period immediately preceding the transfer of value during which the asset (or, if the relevant business property is an interest in a business, a corresponding interest in the asset) was owned by the transferor or, if the business concerned is that of a company, was owned by that company or any other company which immediately before the transfer of value was a member of the same group.

(6)For the purposes of this section an asset shall be deemed not to have been used wholly or mainly for the purposes of the business concerned at any time when it was used wholly or mainly for the personal benefit of the transferor or of a person connected with him.

113Contracts for sale

Where any property would be relevant business property in relation to a transfer of value but a binding contract for its sale has been entered into at the time of the transfer, it is not relevant business property in relation to the transfer unless—

(a)the property is a business or interest in a business and the sale is to a company which is to carry on the business and is made in consideration wholly or mainly of shares in or securities of that company, or

(b)the property is shares in or securities of a company and the sale is made for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation.

114Avoidance of double relief

(1)Where any part of the value transferred by a transfer of value is reduced under Chapter II of this Part of this Act by reference to the agricultural value of any property, or would be so reduced but for section 121(3), such part of the value transferred as is or would be so reduced under that Chapter shall not be reduced under this Chapter.

(2)Where the value transferred by a transfer of value is reduced under section 129 below by reference to the tax chargeable on the disposal of any trees or underwood, the value to be reduced under section 104 above shall be the value as reduced under section 129 (but subject to section 104(2) above).

CHAPTER IIAgricultural Property

115Preliminary

(1)In this Chapter references to a transfer of value include references to an occasion on which tax is chargeable under Chapter III of Part III of this Act (apart from section 79) and—

(a)references to the value transferred by a transfer of value include references to the amount on which tax is then chargeable, and

(b)references to the transferor include references to the trustees of the settlement concerned.

(2)In this Chapter " agricultural property " means agricultural land or pasture and includes woodland and any building used in connection with the intensive rearing of livestock or fish if the woodland or building is occupied with agricultural land or pasture and the occupation is ancillary to that of the agricultural land or pasture ; and also includes such cottages, farm buildings and farmhouses, together with the land occupied with them, as are of a character appropriate to the property.

(3)For the purposes of this Chapter the agricultural value of any agricultural property shall be taken to be the value which would be the value of the property if the property were subject to a perpetual covenant prohibiting its use otherwise than as agricultural property.

(4)For the purposes of this Chapter the breeding and rearing of horses on a stud farm and the grazing of horses in connection with those activities shall be taken to be agriculture and any buildings used in connection with those activities to be farm buildings.

(5)This Chapter applies to agricultural property only if it is in the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

116The relief

(1)Where the whole or part of the value transferred by a transfer of value is attributable to the agricultural value of agricultural property, the whole or that part of the value transferred shall be treated as reduced by the appropriate percentage, but subject to the following provisions of this Chapter.

(2)The appropriate percentage is 50 per cent. if either—

(a)the interest of the transferor in the property immediately before the transfer carries the right to vacant possession or the right to obtain it within the next twelve months, or

(b)the transferor has been beneficially entitled to that interest since before 10th March 1981 and the conditions set out in subsection (3) below are satisfied ;

and, subject to subsection (4) below, it is 30 per cent. in any other case.

(3)The conditions referred to in subsection (2)(b) above are—

(a)that if the transferor had disposed of his interest by a transfer of value immediately before 10th March 1981 and duly made a claim under paragraph 1 of Schedule 8 to the [1975 c. 7.] Finance Act 1975, the value transferred would have been computed in accordance with paragraph 2 of that Schedule and relief would not have been limited by paragraph 5 of that Schedule (restriction to £250,000 or one thousand acres); and

(b)that the transferor's interest did not at any time during the period beginning with 10th March 1981 and ending with the date of the transfer carry a right mentioned in subsection (2)(a) above, and did not fail to do so by reason of any act or deliberate omission of the transferor during that period.

(4)Where the appropriate percentage would be 50 per cent. but for a limitation on relief that would have been imposed (as mentioned in subsection (3)(a) above) by paragraph 5 of Schedule 8 to the Finance Act 1975, the appropriate percentage shall be 50 per cent. in relation to a part of the value transferred equal to the amount which would have attracted relief under that Schedule and 30 per cent. in relation to the remainder.

(5)In determining for the purposes of subsections (3)(a) and (4) above whether or to what extent relief under Schedule 8 to the Finance Act 1975 would have been limited by paragraph 5 of that Schedule, that paragraph shall be construed as if references to relief given under that Schedule in respect of previous chargeable transfers included references to—

(a)relief given under this Chapter by virtue of subsection (2)(b) or (4) above, and

(b)relief given under Schedule 14 to the [1981 c. 35.] Finance Act 1981 by virtue of paragraph 2(2)(b) or (4) of that Schedule,

in respect of previous chargeable transfers made on or after 10th March 1981.

(6)For the purposes of this Chapter the interest of one of two or more joint tenants or tenants in common (or, in Scotland, joint owners or owners in common) shall be taken to carry a right referred to in subsection (2)(a) above if the interests of all of them together carry that right.

(7)For the purposes of this section, the value transferred by a transfer of value shall be calculated as a value on which no tax is chargeable.

117Minimum period of occupation or ownership

Subject to the following provisions of this Chapter, section 116 above does not apply to any agricultural property unless—

(a)it was occupied by the transferor for the purposes of agriculture throughout the period of two years ending with the date of the transfer, or

(b)it was owned by him throughout the period of seven years ending with that date and was throughout that period occupied (by him or another) for the purposes of agriculture.

118Replacements

(1)Where the agricultural property occupied by the transferor on the date of the transfer replaced other agricultural property, the condition stated in section 117(a) above shall be treated as satisfied if it, the other property and any agricultural property directly or indirectly replaced by the other property were occupied by the transferor for the purposes of agriculture for periods which together comprised at least two years falling within the five years ending with that date.

(2)Where the agricultural property owned by the transferor on the date of the transfer replaced other agricultural property, the condition stated in section 117(6) above shall be treated as satisfied if it, the other property and any agricultural property directly or indirectly replaced by the other property were, for periods which together comprised at least seven years falling within the ten years ending with that date, both owned by the transferor and occupied (by him or another) for the purposes of agriculture.

(3)In a case falling within subsection (1) or (2) above relief under this Chapter shall not exceed what it would have been had the replacement or any one or more of the replacements not been made.

(4)For the purposes of subsection (3) above changes resulting from the formation, alteration or dissolution of a partnership shall be disregarded.

119Occupation by company or partnership

(1)For the purposes of sections 117 and 118 above, occupation by a company which is controlled by the transferor shall be treated as occupation by the transferor.

(2)For the purposes of sections 117 and 118 above, occupation of any property by a Scottish partnership shall, notwithstanding section 4(2) of the [1890 c. 39.] Partnership Act 1890, be treated as occupation of it by the partners.

120Successions

(1)For the purposes of section 117 above, where the transferor became entitled to any property on the death of another person—

(a)he shall be deemed to have owned it (and, if he subsequently occupies it, to have occupied it) from the date of the death, and

(b)if that other person was his spouse he shall also be deemed to have occupied it for the purposes of agriculture for any period for which it was so occupied by his spouse, and to have owned it for any period for which his spouse owned it.

(2)Where the transferor became entitled to his interest on the death of his spouse on or after 10th March 1981—

(a)he shall for the purposes of section 116(2)(b) above be deemed to have been beneficially entitled to it for any period for which his spouse was beneficially entitled to it;

(b)the condition set out in section 116(3)(a) shall be taken to be satisfied if and only if it is satisfied in relation to his spouse ; and

(c)the condition set out in section 116(3)(b) shall be taken to be satisfied only if it is satisfied both in relation to him and in relation to his spouse.

121Successive transfers

(1)Where—

(a)the whole or part of the value transferred by a transfer of value (in this section referred to as the earlier transfer) was eligible for relief under this Chapter (or would have been so eligible if such relief had been capable of being given in respect of transfers of value made at that time), and

(b)the whole or part of the property which, in relation to the earlier transfer, was or would have been eligible for relief became, through the earlier transfer, the property of the person (or of the spouse of the person) who is the transferor in relation to a subsequent transfer of value and is at the time of the subsequent transfer occupied for the purposes of agriculture either by that person or by the personal representative of the transferor in relation to the earlier transfer, and

(c)that property or part or any property directly or in directly replacing it would (apart from section 117 above) have been eligible for relief in relation to the subsequent transfer of value, and

(d)either the earlier transfer was, or the subsequent transfer of value is, a transfer made on the death of the transferor,

the property which would have been eligible for relief but for section 117 above shall be eligible for relief notwithstanding that section.

(2)Where the property which, by virtue of subsection (1) above, is eligible for relief replaced the property or part referred to in paragraph (c) of that subsection, relief under this Chapter shall not exceed what it would have been had the replacement or any one or more of the replacements not been made, but section 118(4) above shall apply for the purposes of this subsection as it applies for the purposes of section 118(3).

(3)Where, under the earlier transfer the amount of the value transferred which was attributable to the property or part referred to in subsection (1)(c) above was part only of its value, a like part only of the value which (apart from this subsection) would fall to be reduced under this Chapter by virtue of this section shall be so reduced.

122Agricultural property of companies

(1)Where the whole or part of the value transferred is attributable to the value of shares in or securities of a company it shall be taken for the purposes of this Chapter to be attributable (so far as appropriate) to the agricultural value of agricultural property if and only if—

(a)the agricultural property forms part of the company's assets and part of the value of the shares or securities can be attributed to the agricultural value of the agricultural property, and

(b)the shares or securities gave the transferor control of the company immediately before the transfer.

(2)Shares or securities shall not be regarded for the purposes of subsection (1)(b) above as giving the transferor control of a company if—

(a)they would not have been sufficient, without other property, to give him control of the company immediately before the transfer, and

(b)their value is taken by virtue of section 176 below to be less than the value previously determined.

(3)Where subsection (1) above applies—

(a)the references in section 116(2)(a) and (3)(b) above to the transferor's interest shall be construed as references to the company's interest, and

(b)section 123(1) below shall apply instead of section 117 above.

123Provisions supplementary to section 122

(1)Section 116 above shall not apply by virtue of section 122(1) above unless—

(a)the agricultural property—

(i)was occupied by the company for the purposes of agriculture throughout the period of two years ending with the date of the transfer, or

(ii)was owned by the company throughout the period of seven years ending with that date and was throughout that period occupied (by the company or another) for the purposes of agriculture, and

(b)the shares or securities were owned by the transferor—

(i)in a case within paragraph (a)(i) above, throughout the period there mentioned, or

(ii)in a case within paragraph (a)(ii) above, throughout the period there mentioned.

(2)Subsections (1) and (2) of section 118 above shall apply in relation to the conditions stated in subsection (1)(a) above as they apply in relation to the conditions stated in section 117 taking references to the transferor as references to the company.

(3)Where the shares or securities owned by the transferor on the date of the transfer replaced other eligible property (that is to say, agricultural property or shares or securities the value of which is wholly or partly attributable to the value of such property) the condition stated in subsection (1)(b) above shall be treated as satisfied if the shares or securities, the other eligible property which they replaced and any eligible property directly or indirectly replaced by the other eligible property were owned by the transferor for periods which together comprised—

(a)in a case within subsection (1)(a)(i) above, at least two years falling within the five years ending with that date, or

(b)in a case within subsection (1)(a)(ii) above, at least seven years falling within the ten years ending with that date.

(4)Subsections (3) and (4) of section 118 above shall have effect in relation to a case falling within subsections (2) and (3) above as they have effect in relation to a case falling within subsections (1) and (2) of that section.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (1) above, a company shall be treated as having occupied the agricultural property at any time when it was occupied by a person who subsequently controls the company.

124Contracts for sale

(1)Section 116 above shall not apply to agricultural property if at the time of the transfer the transferor has entered into a binding contract for its sale, except where the sale is to a company and is made wholly or mainly in consideration of shares in or securities of the company which will give the transferor control of the company.

(2)Section 116 above shall not apply by virtue of section 122(1) above if at the time of the transfer the transferor has entered into a binding contract for the sale of the shares or securities concerned, except where the sale is made for the purpose of reconstruction or amalgamation.

CHAPTER IIIWoodlands

125The relief

(1)This section applies where—

(a)part of the value of a person's estate immediately before his death is attributable to the value of land in the United Kingdom on which trees or underwood are growing but which is not agricultural property within the meaning of Chapter II of this Part of this Act, and

(b)either he was beneficially entitled to the land through out the five years immediately preceding his death, or he became beneficially entitled to it otherwise than for a consideration in money or money's worth.

(2)Where this section applies and the person liable for the whole or part of the tax so elects—

(a)the value of the trees or underwood shall be left out of account in determining the value transferred on the death, but

(b)tax shall be charged in the circumstances mentioned in section 126 below.

(3)An election under this section must be made by notice in writing to the Board within two years of the death or such longer time as the Board may allow.

126Charge to tax on disposal of trees or underwood

(1)Where under section 125 above the value of any trees or underwood has been left out of account in determining the value transferred on the death of any person, and the whole or any part of the trees or underwood is disposed of (whether together with or apart from the land on which they were growing) then, if the disposal occurs before any part of the value transferred on the death of any other person is attributable to the value of that land, tax shall be charged in accordance with sections 127 and 128 below.

(2)Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a disposal made by any person to his spouse.

(3)Where tax has been charged under this section on the disposal of any trees or underwood tax shall not again be charged in relation to the same death on a further disposal of the same trees or underwood.

127Amount subject to charge

(1)The amount on which tax is charged under section 126 above on a disposal of trees or underwood shall be—

(a)if the disposal is a sale for full consideration in money or money's worth, an amount equal to the net proceeds of the sale, and

(b)in any other case, an amount equal to the net value of the trees or underwood at the time of the disposal.

(2)Where, if the value of the trees or underwood had not been left out of account in determining the value transferred on the death of the person in question—

(a)it would have been taken into account in determining the value of any relevant business property for the purposes of relief under Chapter I of this Part of this Act in relation to the transfer of value made on his death, or

(b)it would have been so taken into account if this Act had then been in force,

the amount on which tax is charged under section 126 above shall" be reduced by 50 per cent.

128Rate of charge

Tax charged under section 126 above on an amount determined under section 127 above shall be charged at the rate or rates at which it would have been charged on the death first mentioned in section 126 if—

(a)that amount, and any amount on which tax was previously charged under section 126 in relation to that death, had been included in the value transferred on death, and

(b)the amount on which the tax is charged had formed the highest part of that value.

129Credit for tax charged

Where a disposal on which tax is chargeable under section 126 above is a chargeable transfer, the value transferred by it shall be calculated as if the value of the trees or underwood had been reduced by the tax chargeable under that section.

130Interpretation

(1)In this Chapter—

(a)references to the value transferred on a death are references to the value transferred by the chargeable transfer made on that death ;

(b)references to the net proceeds of sale or the net value of any trees or underwood are references to the proceeds of sale or value after deduction of any expenses allowable under this Chapter so far as those expenses are not allowable for the purposes of income tax ; and

(c)references to the disposal of any trees or underwood include references to the disposal of any interest in the trees or underwood (and references to a disposal of the same trees or underwood shall, where the case so requires, be construed as referring to a disposal of the same interest).

(2)The expenses allowable under this Chapter are, in relation to any trees or underwood the value of which has been left out of account on any death,—

(a)the expenses incurred in disposing of the trees or underwood ; and

(b)the expenses incurred in replanting within three years of a disposal (or such longer time as the Board may allow) to replace the trees or underwood disposed of; and

(c)the expenses incurred in replanting to replace trees or underwood previously disposed of, so far as not allowable on the previous disposal.

CHAPTER IVTransfers Within Three Years Before Death

131The relief

(1)Subject to section 132 below, this section applies where (by virtue of section 7(2) above) additional tax becomes chargeable in respect of the value transferred by a chargeable transfer because of the transferor's death within three years of the transfer and all or part of the value transferred is attributable to the value of property (" the transferred property") which—

(a)is, at the date of the death, the property of the person (" the transferee ") whose property it became on the transfer or of his spouse, or

(b)has, before that date, been sold by the transferee or his spouse by a qualifying sale ;

and in the following provisions of this section " the relevant date " means, in a case within paragraph (a) above, the date of the death, and in a case within paragraph (b), the date of the qualifying sale.

(2)If—

(a)the market value of the transferred property at the time of the chargeable transfer exceeds its market value on the relevant date, and

(b)a claim is made by a person liable to pay the whole or part of the additional tax,

the additional tax shall be calculated as if the value transferred were reduced by the amount of the excess.

(3)A sale is a qualifying sale for the purposes of this section if—

(a)it is at arm's length for a price freely negotiated at the time of the sale, and

(b)no person concerned as vendor (or as having an interest in the proceeds of the sale) is the same as or connected with any person concerned as purchaser (or as having an interest in the purchase), and

(c)no provision is made, in or in connection with the agreement for the sale, that the vendor (or-any person having an interest in the proceeds of sale) is to have any right to acquire some or all of the property sold or some interest in or created out of it.

132Wasting assets

(1)Section 131 above shall not apply if the transferred property is tangible movable property that is a wasting asset.

(2)The transferred property is a wasting asset for the purposes of this section if, immediately before the chargeable transfer, it had a predictable useful life not exceeding fifty years, having regard to the purpose for which it was held by the transferor; and plant and machinery shall in every case be regarded as having a predictable useful life of less than fifty years.

133Shares-capital receipts

(1)If the transferred property consists of shares and at any time before the relevant date the transferee or his spouse becomes entitled to a capital payment in respect of them, then for the purposes of section 131 above the market value of the, transferred property on the relevant date shall (except where apart from this section it reflects a right to the payment) be taken to be increased by an amount equal to the payment.

(2)If at any time before the relevant date the transferee or his spouse receives or becomes entitled to receive in respect of the transferred property a provisional allotment of shares and disposes of the rights, the amount of the consideration for the disposal shall be treated for the purposes of this section as a capital payment in respect of the transferred property.

(3)In this section "capital payment" means any money or money's worth which does not constitute income for the purposes of income tax.

134Payments of calls

If the transferred property consists of shares and at any time before the relevant date the transferee or his spouse becomes liable to make a payment in pursuance of a call in respect of them, then for the purposes of section 131 above the market value of the transferred property on the relevant date shall (except where apart from this section it reflects the liability) be taken to be reduced by an amount equal to the payment.

135Reorganisation of share capital, etc.

(1)This section has effect where the transferred property consists of shares in relation to which there occurs before the relevant date a transaction to which section 78 of the [1979 c. 14.] Capital Gains Tax Act 1979 applies or would apply but for section 84 of that Act, that is to say—

(a)a reorganisation within the meaning of section 77(1) of that Act,

(b)the conversion of securities within the meaning of section 82 of that Act,

(c)the issue by a company of shares in exchange for shares in another company in such circumstances that section 85 of that Act applies, or

(d)the issue by a company of shares under such an arrangement as is referred to in section 86 of that Act,

or any transaction relating to a unit trust scheme which corresponds to any of the transactions referred to in paragraph (d) to (d) above and to which section 78 of that Act applies by virtue of section 93 of that Act.

(2)In the following provisions of this section " the original shares " and " the new holding " shall be construed in accordance with section 77(1) of the Capital Gains Tax Act 1979.

(3)Where this section has effect the original shares and the new holding shall be treated as the same property for the purposes of this Chapter.

(4)Where this section has effect and, as part of or in connection with the transaction concerned, the transferee or his spouse becomes liable to give any consideration for the new holding or any part of it, then for the purposes of section 131 above the market value of the transferred property on the relevant date shall (except where apart from this section it reflects the liability) be taken to be reduced by an amount equal to that consideration.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (4) above, there shall not be treated as consideration given for the new holding or any part of it—

(a)any surrender, cancellation or other alteration of any of the original shares or of the rights attached thereto, or

(b)any consideration consisting of any application, in paying up the new holding or any part of it, of assets of the company concerned or of any dividend or other distribution declared out of those assets but not made.

136Transactions of close companies

(1)This section applies where the transferred property consists of shares in a close company and at any time after the chargeable transfer and before the relevant date there is a relevant transaction in relation to the shares; and for this purpose " relevant transaction " means a transaction which is—

(a)the making of a transfer of value by the company, or

(b)an alteration in so much of the company's share or loan capital as does not consist of shares quoted on a recognised stock exchange or an alteration in any rights attaching to shares in or debentures of the company which are not so quoted,

but which does not give rise to an adjustment, under any of the preceding sections of this Chapter, in the market value of the transferred property on the relevant date.

(2)Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, where this section applies the market value of the transferred property on the relevant date shall for the purposes of section 131 above be taken to be increased by an amount equal to the difference between—

(a)the market value of the transferred property at the time of the chargeable transfer, and

(b)what that value would have been if the relevant transaction had occurred before rather than after that time.

(3)Where the relevant transaction is the making by the company of a transfer of value by which the value of the estate of the person who made the chargeable transfer or, if his spouse is domiciled in the United Kingdom, his spouse is increased by any amount, the increase provided for by subsection (2) above shall be reduced by that amount.

(4)Where the market value of the transferred property at the time of the chargeable transfer is less than it would have been as mentioned in subsection (2) above, that subsection shall apply as if, instead of providing for an increase, it provided for the market value on the relevant date to be reduced to what it would have been if the relevant transaction had not occurred.

137Interests in land

(1)Where the transferred property is an interest in land in relation to which the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) below are not satisfied, then, subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, the market value of the' transferred property on the relevant date shall for the purposes of section 131 above be taken to be increased by an amount equal to the difference between—

(a)the market value of the interest at the time of the chargeable transfer, and

(b)what that market value would have been if the circumstances prevailing on the relevant date and by reason of which the conditions are not satisfied had prevailed at the time of the chargeable transfer.

(2)The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are—

(a)that the interest was the same in all respects and with the same incidents at the time of the chargeable transfer and on the relevant date, and

(b)that the land in which the interest subsists was in the same state and with the same incidents at the time of the chargeable transfer and on the relevant date.

(3)If after the date of the chargeable transfer but before the relevant date compensation becomes payable under any enactment to the transferee or his spouse—

(a)because of the imposition of a restriction on the use or development of the land in which the interest subsists, or

(b)because the value of the interest is reduced for any other reason,

the imposition of the restriction or the other cause of the reduction in value shall be ignored for the purposes of subsections (1) and (2) above, but the market value of the interest on the relevant date shall be taken to be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the compensation.

(4)Where the market value of the interest at the time of the chargeable transfer is less than it would have been as mentioned in subsection (1) above, that subsection shall apply as if, instead of providing for an increase, it provided for the market value on the relevant date to be reduced to what it would have been if the change in circumstances by reason of which the conditions mentioned in subsection (2) above are not satisfied had not occurred.

138Leases

(1)Where the transferred property is the interest of a lessee under a lease the duration of which at the time of the chargeable transfer does not exceed fifty years, then for the purposes of section 131 above the market value of the interest on the relevant date shall be taken to be increased by an amount equal to the appropriate fraction of the market value of the interest at the time of the chargeable transfer.

(2)In subsection (1) above, " the appropriate fraction " means the fraction—

where

  • P(1) is the percentage that would be derived from the Table in paragraph 1 of Schedule 3 to the [1979 c. 14.] Capital Gains Tax Act 1979 for the duration of the lease at the time of the chargeable transfer, and

  • P(2) is the percentage that would be so derived for the duration of the lease on the relevant date.

139Other property

(1)Where the transferred property is neither shares nor an interest in land and the condition mentioned in subsection (2) below is not satisfied in relation to it, then, subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, the market value of the property on the relevant date shall for the purposes of section 131 above be taken to be increased by an amount equal to the difference between—

(a)the market value of the property at the time of the chargeable transfer, and

(b)what that value would have been if the circumstances prevailing at the relevant date and by reason of which the condition is not satisfied had prevailed at the time of the chargeable transfer.

(2)The condition referred to in subsection (1) above is that the transferred property was the same in all respects at the time of the chargeable transfer and on the relevant date.

(3)Where the market value of the transferred property at the time of the chargeable transfer is less than it would have been as mentioned in subsection (1) above, that subsection shall apply as if, instead of providing for an increase, it provided for the market value on the relevant date to be reduced to what it would have been if the property had remained the same in all respects as it was at the time of the chargeable transfer.

(4)Where the transferred property is neither shares nor an interest in land and during the period between the time of the chargeable transfer and the relevant date benefits in money or money's worth are derived from it which exceed a reasonable return on its market value at the time of the chargeable transfer, then—

(a)any effect of the benefits on the transferred property shall be ignored for the purposes of the preceding provisions of this section, but

(b)the market value of the transferred property on the relevant date shall be taken for the purposes of section 131 above to be increased by an amount equal to the said excess.

140Interpretation

(1)In this Chapter—

  • " close company " has the same meaning as in Part IV of this Act;

  • " interest in land " does not include any estate, interest or right by way of mortgage or other security ;

  • " shares " includes securities ;

and " the relevant date ", " the transferee " and " the transferred property" shall be construed in accordance with section 131(1) above.

(2)For the purposes of this Chapter the market value at any time of any property is the price which the property might reasonably be expected to fetch if sold in the open market at that time ; but—

(a)that price shall not be assumed to be reduced on the ground that the whole property is on the market at one and the same time, and

(b)in the case of shares not quoted on a recognised stock exchange, it shall be assumed that in that market there is available to any prospective purchaser of the shares all the information which a prudent prospective purchaser might reasonably require if he were proposing to purchase them from a willing vendor by private treaty and at arm's length.

CHAPTER VMiscellaneous

Successive charges

141Two or more transfers within five years

(1)Where the value of a person's estate was increased by a chargeable transfer (" the first transfer ") made not more than five years before—

(a)his death, or

(b)a chargeable transfer which is made by him otherwise than on his death and as to which the conditions specified in subsection (2) below are satisfied,

the tax chargeable on the value transferred by the transfer made on his death or, as the case may be, referred to in paragraph (b) above ("the later transfer") shall be reduced by an amount calculated in accordance with subsection (3) below.

(2)The conditions referred to in subsection (1)(b) above are—

(a)that the value transferred by the later transfer falls to be determined by reference to the value of settled property in which there subsists an interest in possession to which the transferor is entitled ;

(b)that the value transferred by the first transfer also fell to be determined by reference to the value of that property; and

(c)that the first transfer either was or included the making of the settlement or was made after the making of the settlement.

(3)The amount referred to in subsection (1) above is a percentage of the tax charged on so much of the value transferred by the first transfer as is attributable to,-.the increase mentioned in that subsection; and the percentage is—

(a)100 per cent. if the period beginning with the date of the first transfer and ending with the date of the later does not exceed one year ;

(b)80 per cent. if it exceeds one year but does not exceed two years;

(c)60 per cent. if it exceeds two years but does not exceed three years;

(d)40 per cent. if it exceeds three years but does not exceed four years ; and

(e)20 per cent. if it exceeds four years.

(4)Where in relation to the first transfer there is more than one later transfer, the reduction provided for by this section shall be given only in respect of the earliest of them, unless the reduction represents less than the whole of the tax charged as mentioned in subsection (3) above ; and in that case a reduction may be made in respect of subsequent transfers (in chronological order) until reductions representing the whole of that tax have been made.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (4) above, a reduction made in accordance with paragraph (a) of subsection (3) above represents an equivalent amount of tax, a reduction made in accordance with paragraph (b) represents the amount of tax of which it is 80 per cent, and so on.

(6)In determining for the purposes of this section whether or to what extent the value of the transferor's estate was increased by a chargeable transfer, there shall be disregarded any excluded property consisting of a reversionary interest to which he became entitled on the occasion of or before the chargeable transfer.

(7)Where—

(a)the value of the transferor's estate was increased in consequence of—

(i)a gift inter vivos, or

(ii)a disposition or determination of a beneficial interest in possession in property comprised in a settlement, and

(b)tax under section 22(5) of the [1975 c. 7.] Finance Act 1975 was by reason of the gift or interest payable on a subsequent death,

this section shall apply as if the increase had been by the chargeable transfer made on the occasion of the death.

Changes in distribution of deceased's estate, etc.

142Alteration of dispositions taking effect on death

(1)Where within the period of two years after a person's death—

(a)any of the dispositions (whether effected by will, under the law relating to intestacy or otherwise) of the property comprised in his estate immediately before his death are varied, or

(b)the benefit conferred by any of those dispositions is disclaimed,

by an instrument in writing made by the persons or any of the persons who benefit or would benefit under the dispositions, this Act shall apply as if the variation had been effected by the deceased or, as the case may be, the disclaimed benefit had never been conferred.

(2)Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a variation unless an election to that effect is made by written notice given to the Board within six months after the date of the instrument, or such longer time as the Board may allow, by—

(a)the person or persons making the instrument, and

(b)where the variation results in additional tax being payable, the personal representatives ;

but personal representatives may decline to join in an election only if no, or no sufficient, assets are held by them in that capacity for discharging the additional tax.

(3)Subsection (1) above shall not apply to a variation or disclaimer made for any consideration in money or money's worth other than consideration consisting of the making, in respect of another of the dispositions, of a variation or disclaimer to which that subsection applies.

(4)Where a variation to which subsection (1) above applies results in property being held in trust for a person for a period which ends not more than two years after the death, this Act shall apply as if the disposition of the property that takes effect at the end of the period had had effect from the beginning of the period; but this subsection shall not affect the application of this Act in relation to any distribution or application of property occurring before that disposition takes effect.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (1) above the property comprised in a person's estate includes any excluded property but not any property to which he is treated as entitled by virtue of section 49(1) above.

(6)Subsection (1) above applies whether or not the administration of the estate is complete or the property concerned has been distributed in accordance with the original dispositions.

(7)In the application of subsection (4) above to Scotland, property which is subject to a proper liferent shall be deemed to be held in trust for the liferenter.

143Compliance with testator's request

Where a testator expresses a wish that property bequeathed by his will should be transferred by the legatee to other persons, and the legatee transfers any of the property in accordance with that wish within the period of two years after the death of the testator, this Act shall have effect as if the property transferred had been bequeathed by the will to the transferee.

144Distribution etc. from property settled by will

(1)This section applies where property comprised in a person's estate immediately before his death is settled by his will and, within the period of two years after his death and before any interest in possession has subsisted in the property, there occurs—

(a)an event on which tax would (apart from this section) be chargeable under any provision, other than section 64 or 79, of Chapter III of Part III of this Act, or

(b)an event on which tax would be so chargeable but for section 75 or 76 above or paragraph 16(1) of Schedule 4 to this Act.

(2)Where this section applies by virtue of an event within paragraph (a) of subsection (1) above, tax shall not be charged under the provision in question on that event; and in every case in which this section applies in relation to an event, this Act shall have effect as if the will had provided that on the testator's death the property should be held as it is held after the event.

145Redemption of surviving spouse's life interest

Where an election is made by a surviving spouse under section 47A of the [1925 c. 23.] Administration of Estates Act 1925, this Act shall have effect as if the surviving spouse, instead of being entitled to the life interest, had been entitled to a sum equal to the capital value mentioned in that section.

146Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975

(1)Where an order is made under section 2 of the [1975 c. 63.] Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) Act 1975 (" the 1975 Act") in relation to any property forming part of the net estate of a deceased person, then, without prejudice to section 19(1) of that Act, the property shall for the purposes of this Act be treated as if it had on his death devolved subject to the provisions of the order.

(2)Where an order is made under section 10 of the 1975 Act requiring a person to provide any money or other property by reason of a disposition made by the deceased, then—

(a)if that disposition was a chargeable transfer and the personal representatives of the deceased make a claim for the purpose—

(i)tax paid or payable on the value transferred by that chargeable transfer (whether or not by the claimants) shall be repaid to them by the Board or, as the case may be, shall not be payable, and

(ii)the rate or rates of tax applicable to the transfer of value made by the deceased on his death shall be determined as if the values previously transferred by chargeable transfers made by him were reduced by that value ;

(b)the money or property shall be included in the deceased's estate for the purpose of the transfer of value made by him on his death.

(3)Where the money or other property ordered to be provided under section 10 of the 1975 Act is less than the maximum permitted by that section, subsection (2)(a) above shall have effect in relation to such part of the value there mentioned as is appropriate.

(4)The adjustment in consequence of the provisions of this section or of section 19(1) of the 1975 Act of the tax payable in respect of the transfer of value made by the deceased on his death shall not affect—

(a)the amount of any deduction to be made under section 8 of that Act in respect of tax borne by the person mentioned in subsection (3) of that section, or

(b)the amount of tax to which regard is to be had under section 9(2) of that Act;

and where a person is ordered under that Act to make a payment or transfer property by reason of his holding property treated as part of the deceased's net estate under section 8 or 9 and tax borne by him is taken into account for the purposes of the order, any repayment of that tax shall be made to the personal representatives of the deceased and not to that person.

(5)Tax repaid under paragraph (a)(i) of subsection (2) above shall be included in the deceased's estate for the purposes of the transfer of value made by him on his death; and tax repaid under that paragraph or under subsection (4) above shall form part of the deceased's net estate for the purposes of the 1975 Act.

(6)Anything which is done in compliance with an order under the 1975 Act or occurs on the coming into force of such an order, and which would (apart from this subsection) constitute an occasion on which tax is chargeable under any provision, other than section 79, of Chapter III of Part III of this Act, shall not constitute such an occasion; and where an order under the 1975 Act provides for property to be settled or for the variation of a settlement, and (apart from this subsection) tax would be charged under section 52(1) above on the coming into force of the order, section 52(1) shall not apply.

(7)In subsections (2)(a) and (5) above references to tax include references to interest on tax.

(8)Where an order is made staying or dismissing proceedings under the 1975 Act on terms set out in or scheduled to the order, this section shall have effect as if any of those terms which could have been included in an order under section 2 or 10 of that Act were provisions of such an order.

(9)In this section any reference to, or to any provision of, the 1975 Act includes a reference to, or to the corresponding provision of, the [S.I. 1979/924 (N.I. 8).] Inheritance (Provision for Family and Dependants) (Northern Ireland) Order 1979.

147Scotland: legitim

(1)Where a testator dies leaving a surviving spouse and a person under the age of 18 entitled to claim legitim, and provision is made in his will or other testamentary document for a disposition to his spouse which, if it could take effect, would leave insufficient property in the estate to satisfy the entitlement of that person in respect of legitim, the following provisions of this section shall apply.

(2)Subject to subsections (3) and (4) below, tax shall be charged at the testator's death as if the disposition to the spouse did not include any amount in respect of legitim, but if within the period mentioned in subsection (6) below the person or persons concerned renounce their claim to legitim, tax shall be repaid to the estate calculated on the basis that the disposition to the spouse did include the amount renounced.

(3)The executors or judicial factor of the testator may, in accordance with the provisions of .this section, elect that subsection (2) above shall not apply but that subsection (4) below shall apply.

(4)Tax shall be charged at the testator's death as if the disposition to the spouse had taken effect, but where the person or persons concerned claim legitim within the period mentioned in subsection (6) below, tax shall be charged on the amount so claimed calculated on the basis that the legitim fund had been paid out in full at the testator's death (excluding any part of the fund renounced before any claim has been made) and the tax chargeable thereon had been apportioned rateably among the persons entitled to claim legitim (excluding any who have renounced as aforesaid).

(5)Where the executors or judicial factor of the testator decide to make an election under subsection (3) above they shall give notice in writing of that election to the Board within two years from the date of death of the testator or such longer period as the Board may permit.

(6)For the purposes of subsections (2) and (4) above, a person shall be treated as having claimed legitim unless he has renounced his claim before attaining the age of 18 or he renounces his claim within two years of his attaining that age or such longer period as the Board may permit.

(7)Where a person dies before attaining the age of 18 or before making a renunciation under subsection (6) above the provisions of this section shall apply in relation to that person's executors or judicial factor as they would have applied in relation to that person if that person had attained the age of 18 with the substitution of the date of death of that person for the date on which a person attained that age; but where the executors or factor renounce a claim to legitim in respect of a person the amount renounced shall not be treated as part of that person's estate.

(8)Where subsection (2) above applies in relation to any estate, then notwithstanding anything in section 241 below the Board may repay tax under that subsection without limit of time.

(9)Where subsection (4) above applies in relation to any estate, then notwithstanding anything in section 239 below a certificate of discharge may be given under that section in respect of the whole estate, and notwithstanding anything in section 240 below the giving of the certificate shall not preclude the Board from claiming tax under subsection (4) above without limit of time.

Mutual and voidable transfers

148Mutual transfers: exemption for donee's gift

(1)This section and section 149 below have effect where—

(a)a person (" the donor") makes a chargeable transfer (" the donor's transfer") which increases the estate of another person ("the donee "), and

(b)the donee, within the period of ten years begirining with the date of the donor's transfer, makes a transfer of value (" the donee's transfer ") which either—

(i)is made in the donor's life-time and increases the value of the estate of the donor or his spouse, or

(ii)is made within two years after the donor's death and increases the value of the estate of the donor's widow or widower.

(2)The donee's transfer shall be an exempt transfer to the extent to which the value thereby transferred does not exceed—

(a)the amount by which his estate was increased by the donor's transfer, or

(b)if there has been a previous donee's transfer, so much of that amount as has not been taken into account under this subsection for exempting that transfer.

(3)In subsection (1) above references to a transfer are references to a transfer that is a disposition between individuals, including any disposition treated as made by virtue of section 3(3) above but not anything else that is treated as a disposition for the purposes of this Act.

(4)Subsection (1)(b) above has effect in relation to a person as the donor's spouse, widow or widower only if at the relevant time both the donor and that person were, or neither of them was, domiciled in the United Kingdom; and for that purpose the relevant time is, in the case of a spouse, the time of the donee's transfer and, in the case of a widow or widower, the time of the donor's death.

(5)The extent to which the donee's transfer is an exempt transfer by virtue of subsection (2) above shall be determined without regard to Chapters I and II of this Part of this Act, and those Chapters shall not apply to that transfer to the extent to which it is an exempt transfer by virtue of that subsection.

149Mutual transfers: relief for donor's gift

(1)The donor may, within six years after the donee's transfer, claim that for the purposes of this section the value transferred by the donor's transfer shall be treated as cancelled by the donee's transfer to the extent specified in subsection (3) below ; and thereupon—

(a)tax on the cancelled value paid or payable (whether or not by the claimant) shall be repaid to him by the Board or, as the case may be, shall not be payable ; and

(b)the rate or rates of tax applicable to any chargeable transfer made by the donor after the claim, and within the period of ten years beginning with the date of the donor's transfer, shall be determined as if the values previously transferred by chargeable transfers made by the donor were reduced by the cancelled value.

(2)Where the donor has died, then—

(a)if the case falls within section 148(1)(b)(i) above, a claim may be made under subsection (1) above by the donor's personal representatives and paragraph (b) of that subsection shall apply as if for the reference to any chargeable transfer made by the donor after the claim there were substituted a reference to the chargeable transfer made by him on his death ;

(b)if the case falls within section 148(1)(b)(ii) above, a claim may be made under subsection (1) above by the donor's widow or widower.

(3)The amount of the value transferred to be treated as cancelled by a donee's transfer shall be such amount as, after deduction of the tax charged on it, is equal—

(a)if paragraph (b) below does not apply, to the value restored by the transfer ;

(b)if more than twelve months have elapsed between the donor's transfer and the donee's, to the value so restored reduced by 4 per cent. for every twelve months that have so elapsed ;

and where the cancelled amount is less than the whole of the value transferred it shall be treated as the highest part of that value.

(4)As between two or more donor's transfers made by the same donor to the same donee value transferred by a later transfer shall be treated as cancelled rather than value transferred by an earlier one; and where there has been a claim in respect of a previous donee's transfer references in the foregoing provisions of this section to the value transferred shall be construed as references to the part of that value not treated as cancelled by that transfer.

(5)For the purposes of subsection (3) above the value restored by the donee's transfer is so much of the value thereby transferred as does not exceed—

(a)whichever is the smaller of—

(i)the amount by which the donee's estate was increased by the donor's transfer, or

(ii)the amount by which the donor's estate was increased by the donee's transfer, or

(b)if there has been a previous donee's transfer, so much of the amount applying under paragraph (a) above as was not taken into account as the value restored by that transfer.

(6)Where the value transferred by the donor's transfer fell to be calculated in accordance with the provisions of Schedule 8 to the [1975 c. 7.] Finance Act 1975, Schedule 10 to the [1976 c. 40.] Finance Act 1976, Schedule 14 to the [1981 c. 35.] Finance Act 1981 or Chapter I or II of this Part of this Act, the value restored by the donee's transfer as determined under subsection (5) above shall be treated as reduced to such part of it as bears to the whole the same proportion as the value transferred by the donor's transfer after applying those provisions bears to the value transferred by it before applying those provisions.

(7)In subsection (1)(a) above the reference to tax includes a reference to interest on tax.

(8)For the purposes of liability to additional tax by reason of the donor's death within three years after the donor's transfer, the value thereby transferred which is treated as cancelled by a donee's transfer made before the death shall include any value that would be so treated if subsection (3)(b) above had not applied.

(9)Where the donee's transfer has increased the estate of the spouse, widow or widower of another person any value thereby transferred which can (or if a claim were made could) be taken into account as value restored in relation to a transfer made by the spouse, widow or widower shall not be so taken into account in relation to a transfer made by that other person.

150Voidable transfers

(1)Where on a claim made for the purpose it is shown that the whole or any part of a chargeable transfer (" the relevant transfer ") has by virtue of any enactment or rule of law been set aside as voidable or otherwise defeasible—

(a)tax paid or payable by the claimant (in respect of the relevant transfer or any other chargeable transfer made before the claim) that would not have been payable if the relevant transfer had been void ab initio shall be repaid to him by the Board, or as the case may be shall not be payable, and

(b)the rate or rates of tax applicable to any chargeable transfer made after the claim by the person who made the relevant transfer shall be determined as if that transfer or that part of it had been void as aforesaid.

(2)In subsection (1)(a).above the reference to tax includes a reference to interest on tax.

Pension schemes, etc.

151Treatment of pension rights, etc.

(1)This section applies to any fund to which section 218 of the Taxes Act applies, to any scheme approved under section 226 or 226A of that Act, to any exempt approved scheme or statutory scheme as defined in Chapter II of Part II of the [1970 c. 24.] Finance Act 1970 and to any other sponsored superannuation scheme as defined in section 226(11) of the Taxes Act.

(2)An interest in or under a fund or scheme to which this section applies which comes to an end on the death of the person entitled to it shall be left out of account in determining for the purposes of this Act the value of his estate immediately before his death, if the interest—

(a)is, or is a right to, a pension or annuity, and

(b)is not an interest resulting (whether by virtue of the instrument establishing the fund or scheme or otherwise) from the application of any benefit provided under the fund or scheme otherwise than by way of a pension or annuity.

(3)Sections 49 to 53 above shall not apply in relation to an interest satisfying the conditions of paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (2) above.

(4)In relation to an interest in or under a fund or scheme to which this section applies, section 5(2) above shall apply as if the words " other than settled property " were omitted (in both places).

(5)Where a benefit has become payable under a fund or scheme to which this section applies, and the benefit becomes comprised in a settlement made by a person other than the person entitled to the benefit, the settlement shall for the purposes of this Act be treated as made by the person so entitled.

152Cash options

Where under a contract or trust scheme approved by the Board under section 226 or 226A of the Taxes Act or (before the commencement of that Act) under section 22 of the [1956 c. 54.] Finance Act 1956 (retirement annuities) an annuity becomes payable on a person's death to a widow, widower or dependant of that person, and under the terms of the contract or scheme a sum of money might at his option have become payable instead to his personal representatives, he shall not, by virtue of section 5(2) above, be treated as having been beneficially entitled to that sum.

153Overseas pensions

(1)In determining for the purposes of this Act the value of a person's estate immediately before his death there shall be left out of account any pension payable under the regulations or rules relating to any fund vested in Commissioners under section 273 of the [1935 c. 2.] Government of India Act 1935 or to any fund administered under a scheme made under section 2 of the [1973 c. 21.] Overseas Pensions Act 1973 which is certified by the Secretary of State for the purpose of this section to correspond to an Order in Council under subsection (1) of the said section 273.

(2)For the purposes of this Act—

(a)a pension paid under the authority of a scheme made under section 2 of the Overseas Pensions Act 1973 which is constituted by the [1955 c. 22.] Pensions (India, Pakistan and Burma) Act 1955 or is certified by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this section to correspond to the said Act of 1955 shall be treated as if it had been paid by the Government of India or the Government of Pakistan (according as the arrangements in pursuance of which the pension was first paid under the said Act of 1955 were made with the one or the other Government);

(b)a pension paid out of any fund established in the United Kingdom by the Government of any country which, at the time when the fund was established, was, or formed part of, a colony, protectorate, protected state or United Kingdom trust territory shall, if the fund was established for the sole purpose of providing pensions, whether contributory or not, payable in respect of service under the Government be treated as if it had been paid by the Government by which the fund was established;

(c)a pension paid out of the Central African Pension Fund established by section 24 of the [S.I. 1963/2085.] Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland (Dissolution) Order in Council 1963 shall be treated as if it had been paid by the Government of a territory outside the United Kingdom; and

(d)so much of any pension paid to or in respect of any person under—

(i)the scheme which by virtue of subsection (3) of section 2 of the Overseas Pensions Act 1973 is constituted under that section by section 2 or subsection (2) of section 4 of the [1958 c. 14.] Overseas Service Act 1958, or

(ii)such other scheme made under section 2 of the Overseas Pensions Act 1973 as is certified by the Secretary of State for the purposes of the Taxes Act to correspond to section 2 or subsection (2) of section 4 of the [1958 c. 14.] Overseas Service Act 1958,

as is certified by the Secretary of State to be attributable to service under the Government of an overseas territory shall be treated as if it had been paid by the Government of that territory.

(3)Subsection (1) above shall be construed as if contained in section 273 of the [1935 c. 2.] Government of India Act 1935 ; and for the purposes of subsection (2) above—

(a)" pension " includes a gratuity and any sum payable on or in respect of death, and a return of contributions with or without interest thereon or any other addition thereto ;

(b)" United Kingdom trust territory " means a territory administered by the Government of the United Kingdom under the trusteeship system of the United Nations;

(c)" overseas territory" means any country or territory outside the United Kingdom ;

(d)references to the Government of any such country or territory as is mentioned in paragraph (b) or (d) of that subsection include a Government constituted for two or more such countries or territories and any authority established for the purpose of providing or administering services which are common to, or relate to matters of common interest to, two or more such countries or territories.

(4)If, by reason of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom having assumed responsibility for a pension, allowance or gratuity within the meaning of section 1 of the [1973 c. 21.] Overseas Pensions Act 1973, payments in respect of it are made under that section, this section shall apply in relation to the pension, allowance or gratuity, exclusive of so much (if any) of it as is paid by virtue of the application to it of any provisions of the [1971 c. 56.] Pensions (Increase) Act 1971 or any enactment repealed by that Act, as if it continued to be paid by the Government or other body or fund which had responsibility for it before that responsibility was assumed by Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom.

Armed forces

154Death on active service, etc.

(1)Section 4 above shall not apply in relation to the death of a person in whose case it is certified by the Defence Council or the Secretary of State—

(a)that he died from a wound inflicted, accident occurring or disease contracted at a time when the conditions specified in subsection (2) below were satisfied, or

(b)that he died from a disease contracted at some previous time, the death being due to or hastened by the aggravation of the disease during a period when those conditions were satisfied.

(2)The conditions referred to in subsection (1) above are that the deceased was a member of any of the armed forces of the Crown or (not being a member of any of those forces) was subject to the law governing any of those forces by reason of association with or accompanying any body of those forces and (in any case) was either—

(a)on active service against an enemy, or

(b)on other service of a warlike nature or which in the opinion of the Treasury involved the same risks as service of a warlike nature.

(3)In relation to any time before 28th July 1981 (the date of the passing of the [1981 c. 55.] Armed Forces Act 1981), the reference in subsection (2) above to membership of the armed forces of the Crown shall include a reference to employment as a person of any of the descriptions specified in paragraph 1(3) of Schedule 7 to the [1975 c. 7.] Finance Act 1975 (women's services).

155Visiting forces, etc.

(1)Section 6(4) above applies to—

(a)the emoluments paid by the Government of any designated country to a member of a visiting force of that country, not being a British citizen, a British Dependent Territories citizen or a British Overseas citizen, and

(b)any tangible movable property the presence of which in the United Kingdom is due solely to the presence in the United Kingdom of such a person while serving as a member of the force.

(2)A period during which any such member of a visiting force as is referred to in subsection (1) above is in the United Kingdom by reason solely of his being such a member shall not be treated for the purposes of this Act as a period of residence in the United Kingdom or as creating a change of his residence or domicile.

(3)References in subsections (1) and (2) above to a visiting force shall apply to a civilian component of a visiting force as they apply to the force itself, and those subsections shall be construed as one with Part I of the [1952 c. 67.] Visiting Forces Act 1952, but so that for the purposes of this section references to a designated country shall be substituted in that Act for references to a country to which a provision of that Act applies.

(4)For the purpose of .conferring on persons attached to any designated allied headquarters the like benefits as are conferred by subsections (1) and (2) above on members of a visiting force or civilian component, any members of the armed forces of a designated country shall, while attached to any such headquarters, be deemed to constitute a visiting force of that country, and there shall be a corresponding extension of the class of persons who may be treated as members of a civilian component of such a visiting force.

(5)In the case of persons of any category for the time being agreed between Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom and the other members of the North Atlantic Council, employment by a designated allied headquarters shall be treated for the purposes of subsections (1)(b) and (2) above as if it were service as a member of a visiting force of a designated country.

(6)For the purposes of this section—

  • " allied headquarters" means any international military headquarters established under the North Atlantic Council;

  • " designated " means designated for the purpose in question by or under any Order in Council made for giving effect to any international agreement.

(7)Any Order in Council made under section 73 of the [1960 c. 44.] Finance Act 1960 which is in force immediately before the passing of this Act shall have effect for the purposes of this section as if it had also been made under this section, and may be varied or revoked accordingly.

Apsley House and Chevening Estate

156Apsley House and Chevening Estate

This Act shall not apply in respect of—

(a)the rights conferred by section 3 of the [1947 c. 46.] Wellington Museum Act 1947, or

(b)property held on the trusts of the trust instrument set out in the Schedule to the [1959 c. 49.] Chevening Estate Act 1959.

Non-residents' bank accounts

157Non-residents' bank accounts

(1)In determining for the purposes of this Act the value of the estate immediately before his death of a person to whom this section applies there shall be left out of account the balance on—

(a)any qualifying foreign currency account of his, and

(b)subject to subsection (3) below, any qualifying foreign currency account of the trustees of settled property in which he is beneficially entitled to an interest in possession.

(2)This section applies to a person who is not domiciled in the United Kingdom immediately before his death, and is neither resident nor ordinarily resident there at that time.

(3)Subsection (1)(b) above does not apply in relation to settled property if the settlor was domiciled in the United Kingdom when he made the settlement, or if the trustees are domiciled, resident or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom immediately before the beneficiary's death.

(4)For the purposes of this section—

(a)the question whether a person is resident or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom shall, subject to paragraph (b) below, be determined as for the purposes of income tax; but

(b)the trustees of a settlement shall be regarded as not resident or ordinarily resident in the United Kingdom unless the general administration of the settlement is ordinarily carried on in the United Kingdom and the trustees or a majority of them (and, where there is more than one class of trustees, a majority of each class) are resident and ordinarily resident there.

(5)In this section " qualifying foreign currency account" means a foreign currency account with the Bank of England, the Post Office, a recognised bank or licensed institution; and for this purpose—

(a)" foreign currency account" means any account other than one denominated in sterling, and

(b)" recognised bank " and " licensed institution " have the same meanings as in the [1979 c. 37.] Banking Act 1979.

Double taxation relief

158Double taxation conventions

(1)If Her Majesty by Order in Council declares—

(a)that arrangements specified in the Order have been made with the government of any territory outside the United Kingdom with a view to affording relief from double taxation in relation to capital transfer tax payable under the laws of the United Kingdom and any tax imposed under the laws of that territory which is of a similar character or is chargeable on or by reference to death or gifts inter vivos, and

(b)that it is expedient that those arrangements should have effect,

the arrangements shall, notwithstanding anything in this Act, have effect so far as they provide for relief from capital transfer tax, or for determining the place where any property is to be treated as situated for the purposes of the tax.

(2)Any arrangements to which effect is given under this section may include provision for relief in cases occurring before the making of the arrangements and provisions as to property which is not itself subject to double taxation.

(3)Any Order in Council under this section which revokes an earlier Order may contain such transitional provisions as appear to Her Majesty to be necessary or expedient.

(4)An Order under this section shall not be submitted to Her Majesty in Council unless a draft of it has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the House of Commons.

(5)Where any arrangements have effect by virtue of this section, no obligation as to secrecy shall prevent the Board or an authorised officer of the Board from disclosing to any authorised officer of the government with which the arrangements are made such information as is required to be disclosed under the arrangements.

(6)Where arrangements with the government of any territory outside the United Kingdom are specified under any Order in Council which—

(a)was made, or has effect as made, under section 54 of the [1945 c. 13.] Finance (No. 2) Act 1945 or section 2 of the [1946 c. 1 (N.I.).] Finance Act (Northern Ireland) 1946, and

(b)had effect immediately before the passing of this Act,

the Order shall, notwithstanding the repeal of that section by the [1975 c. 7.] Finance Act 1975, remain in force and have effect as if any provision made by those arrangements in relation to estate duty extended to capital transfer tax chargeable by virtue of section 4 above ; but the Order may be amended or revoked by an Order in Council made under this section.

159Unilateral relief

(1)Where the Board are satisfied that in any territory outside the United Kingdom (an " overseas territory") any amount of tax imposed by reason of any disposition or other event is attributable to the value of any property, then, if—

(a)that tax is of a character similar to that of capital transfer tax or is chargeable on or by reference to death or gifts inter vivos, and

(b)any capital transfer tax chargeable by reference to the same disposition or other event is also attributable to the value of that property,

they shall allow a credit in respect of that amount (" the overseas tax ") against that capital transfer tax in accordance with the following provisions.

(2)Where the property is situated in the overseas territory and not in the United Kingdom, the credit shall be of an amount equal to the overseas tax.

(3)Where the property—

(a)is situated neither in the United Kingdom nor in the overseas territory, or

(b)is situated both in the United Kingdom and in the overseas territory,

the credit shall be of an amount calculated in accordance with the following formula—

where A is the amount of the capital transfer tax, B is the overseas tax and C is whichever of A and B is the smaller.

(4)Where tax is imposed in two or more overseas territories in respect of property which—

(a)is situated neither in the United Kingdom nor in any of those territories, or

(b)is situated both in the United Kingdom and in each of those territories,

subsection (3) above shall apply as if, in the formula there set out, B were the aggregate of the overseas tax imposed in each of those territories and C were the aggregate of all, except the largest, of A and the overseas tax imposed in each of them.

(5)Where credit is allowed under subsection (2) above or section 158 above in respect of overseas tax imposed in one overseas territory, any credit under subsection (3) above in respect of overseas tax imposed in another shall be calculated as if the capital transfer tax were reduced by the credit allowed under subsection (2) or section 158; and where, in the case of any overseas territory mentioned in subsection (3) or (4) above, credit is allowed against the overseas tax for tax charged in a territory in which the property is situated, the overseas tax shall be treated for the purposes of those provisions as reduced by the credit.

(6)In this section references to tax imposed in an overseas territory are references to tax chargeable under the law of that territory and paid by the person liable to pay it.

(7)Where relief can be given both under this section and under section 158 above, relief shall be given under whichever section provides the greater relief.

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