3c. Tax - Probate Flashcards
Taxation of estates in administration
What is personal representative’s obligation regarding a deceased’s tax return?
PR must complete the deceased’s tax return for the period from April 6 to date of death, including capital gains
Taxation of estates in administration
Until it is distributed, who does the income generated by assets within the estate belong to, and therefore who must pay the income tax?
PRs, under the usual self assessment rules
Taxation of estates in administration
What can PRs do instead of filing annual self-assessment returns on behalf of the estate?
Make an informal payment covering the total liability for the whole period of administration, with a single income tax and capital gains tax calculation
Taxation of estates in administration
For an estate in administration, what is the income tax rate applicable to (1) non-savings income and interest and (2) dividends, irrespective of amount?
Is the personal allowance, personal savings allowance, or dividend allowance available?
Basic rate for both so:
- Non-savings income/interest: 20%
- Dividends: 8.75%
No
Taxation of estates in administration
If PRs took out a loan to pay IHT, what can be deducted from income?
Interest on the loan
Taxation of estates in administration
If a beneficiary is left an asset under a will, when are they deemed to have acquired the asset and at what valuation?
They are deemed to acquire the asset at the date of death for probate value, i.e. market value at the date of death.
(Value at time of distribution is irrelevant)
This is also the value at which the PRs are deemed to acquire the asset (PRs liable to CGT on any disposals during administration)
Taxation of estates in administration
In the context of CGT, for what periods will the PRs receive the annual exempt amount?
Year of death and the subsequent two years
Taxation of estates in administration
For an estate in administration, what are the capital gains tax rates which apply?
Upper rate, so 20% for all assets except residential property which is 28%
Taxation of estates in administration
Is a disposal by a PR to a beneficiary in settlement of a legacy under a will considered a disposal for capital gains tax purposes?
No
Inheritance tax
What is the current inheritance tax nil-rate band (NRB), and what is the inheritance tax rate (IHT)?
£325,000. 40%.
Inheritance tax
When are lifetime transfers to trusts and companies chargeable to IHT, to the extent they exceed the NRB?
What is a lifetime transfer to an trust or company known as?
Chargeable when made
This is known as a chargeable lifetime transfer, chargeable at 20% or 25% depending on the payor
Inheritance tax
When are lifetime transfers to individuals chargeable to IHT, to the extent they exceed the NRB?
What is a lifetime transfer to an individual known as? If a donor dies within seven years of this, who is the tax payable by?
When the donor dies within seven years
This is known as a potentially exempt transfer. Tax is payable by the recipient.
Inheritance tax
The transfers of what assets are chargeable to IHT depending on whether the donor is domiciled:
(1) in the UK and
(2) outside the UK?
What is the term given to a non-domiciled donor’s assets located outside the UK?
Domiciled in UK: All worldwide assets, wherever situated
Not domiciled in UK: UK assets only
Excluded property
Inheritance tax
What are the two primary considerations when determining whether a transfer is a chargeable transfer?
- Whether there has been a reduction in value in the estate as a result of the transfer
- Whether donor intended to make a transfer of value
Inheritance tax
Selling something below market value would cause a reduction in value of the estate. When is this not deemed a transfer for IHT purposes?
When the transfer is to an unconnected person and there is no gratuitous intent behind the lower price
Family are not unconnected
Inheritance tax
What is one exception to the general rule that a reduction in value of the estate will render a transfer chargeable?
Expenditure on the maintenance of one’s family
Inheritance tax
Under the related property rule, how is transferred property valued if it is worth more when combined with property already owned by the recipient, e.g. 10% of shares transferred to someone who already owns 41% makes their entire holding more valuable on single-share basis?
The transferred property is valued at the higher amount
Inheritance tax
What is a potentially exempt transfer?
A lifetime gift to an individual
It is neither exempt nor chargeable, but becomes chargeable if the donor dies within seven years
Inheritance tax
What is the spouse/civil partner exemption to IHT on both lifetime transfers and transfer on death?
What is the exception to this?
Completely exempt from IHT
If the donor spouse is UK-domiciled and the recipient spouse is non-UK domiciled, only the first £325,000 is exempt
Inheritance tax
What other transfers, both lifetime and on death, are exempt from IHT?
- Gifts to charities in UK and EEA, with no limit
- Small gifts of £250 or less, with no limit on the amount of recipients
- Wedding gifts
- Normal expenditure out of income
Inheritance tax
What does it mean that the small gift exemption is an all or nothing exemption?
If the gift exceeds £250 at all, the entire gift is chargeable, not just the portion which exceeds the threshold
Inheritance tax
What are the limits on exempt lifetime gifts on marriage for:
(1) a parent,
(2) a grandparent
(3) bride to groom (vice versa), and
(4) all others?
Is the wedding exemption all or nothing?
- £5,000
- £2,500
- £2,500
- £1,000
The limit applies per donor, per wedding
No
Inheritance tax
What is the annual exemption for lifetime transfers?
Can unused amounts be carried forward?
£3,000
Unused amounts can be carried forward one year and a current year’s exemption is used before the previous one
Inheritance tax
What two monetary amounts must be deducted before calculating the tax on a chargeable lifetime transfer?
- Remaining NRB
- Available exemptions, max of £6,000 if carrying over a full unused year
Inheritance tax
What are the two tax rates applicable to CLTs if paid by (1) the trustees, and (2) the donor?
- Trustees: 20%
- Donor: 25%
Inheritance tax
What is the time period within which we assess previous gifts made for the purposes of determining the NRB remaining?
Seven years
Inheritance tax
To summarise, what are the five steps for calculating lifetime tax?
- Identify the value transferred using the loss to donor principle
- Deduct annual exemptions to arrive at the CLT
- Identify the NRB for the year of transfer
- Deduct from NRB other chargeable transfers made within seven years
- Pay tax on the excess at 20/25%
Inheritance tax
In determining tax owed on a potentially exempt transfer after death, what NRB and tax rates are operative?
The ones at the date of death
Inheritance tax
In determining tax owed on a PET, from what period do we look back seven years?
Seven years from the date of the PET, not death
Inheritance tax
After what period between the PET and death does taper relief kick in?
What is the process for tapering tax payable on a PET?
3 years
First calculate the full tax owed, and then reduce that monetary amount by the relevant %