Inheritance Tax Flashcards
What are the current rates of IHT?
- 0% - nil rate bands
- 20% - lifetime transfers
- 40% - death rate
What are the three potential trigger events for IHT?
- Potentially exempt transfers (PETs)
- Lifetime chargeable transfers (LCT)
- Death
What is the chargeable transfer value for IHT purposes for lifetime transfers?
Loss to the estate - captures gifts and transactions at undervalue as well as normal transfers
What is the chargeable transfer value for IHT purposes for transfers on death?
Value calculated by market value - what price would assets reasonably be expected to fetch on the open market
What is the current nil rate band?
£325,000
What is the current residential nil rate band?
£175,000
How does the transferrable nil rate band work?
Surviving spouse can claim an unused percentage of deceased’s spouse nil rate band
Can the TNRB be claimed by a spouse who outlives multiple spouses?
Yes - up to maximum cap of 100%
How is a claim made for the TNRB when multiple spouses?
Separate claims should be made for each TNRB.
Claims should even be made where TNRB is not at first need because of cap.
What three requirements are there to receive the residential nil rate band?
- deceased died on or after 6 April 2017
- death estate included a qualifying residential interest
- QRI was ‘closely inherited’ by a direct descendant
What happens if the deceased’s home is worth less than the RNRB?
Then nil rate band is capped at value of the deceased’s interest in the property
What happens to the RNRB if the estate is worth more than £2 million?
Reduction of £1 for every £2 above £2 million threshold
So no RNRB on net estates worth £2,350,000 or more
What is a qualifying residential interest for RNRB?
Dwelling-house which the deceased occupied as their residence at some point during their period of ownership.
Includes property in which deceased did not live in but intended to live in.
Not rental properties though where deceased never lived
What is closely inherited for RNRB?
Means beneficiary inherits:
- by gift of will
- operation of intestacy law
- operation of rules of survivorship
Not beneficiary with contingent interest
Who qualifies as a direct descendant for RNRB?
- children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and other lineal descendants, adopted children, step-children, foster children
- spouse or civil partner of anyone above
- widow, widower or surviving civil partner of anyone included above provided they have not remarried at time of deceased’s death
Can RNRB be transferred between spouses?
Yes - same way as NRB
Cap of up to 100%
What special rule is there where decease has downsized?
Where deceased downsized to less valuable QRI, then additional QRI can be claimed for amount lost because former QRI is no longer owned?
What steps are there for calculating IHT due on lifetime transfers?
1) calculate cumulative total
2) identify value transferred
3) apply exemptions and reliefs
4) apply NRB and calculate tax
5) apply taper relief
6) give credit for tax paid in lifetime
How is the cumulative total calculated?
Need to add up value of all chargeable transfers that were made 7 years prior to that transfer
How do you identify the value transferred?
Need to calculate immediate decrease in value of the donor’s estate
What nil rate bands can lifetime transfer benefit from?
The nil rate band but never the RNRB
What happens if tax was paid during lifetime on transfer?
Factor that in any tax calculation. Only balance needs to be paid to HMRC
What must be done in regards to grossing up?
When a lifetime transfer is made and transferor pays the tax in addition to gift, the reduction of value of his estate includes amount of IHT paid as well as gift.
Amount of gift must be grossed up to include tax as that is part of the value transferred
What steps are there for calculating IHT on death?
1) Calculate cumulative total
2) identify assets included in the taxable estate
3) value the taxable estate
4) deduct debts/expenses
5) apply exemptions and reliefs
6) apply RNRB
7) apply basic NRB and calculate tax
How is the cumulative total calculated?
Add up value of all chargeable transfers made 7 years prior to death
What assets are included in taxable estate?
- all jointly owned property
- property subject to a reservation
- donations mortis causa
- statutory nominations
- must other property owned by deceased
- interest in possession trusts created before March 2006
- interest in possession trusts created after 22 March 2006 where trust is created on death for life tenant - life tenant trust capital value is included
What property is excluded for IHT calculations on death?
- remainder interest in life interest trust
- insurance policy written on trust for another (ie not deceased’s estate)
- discretionary pension schemes
How is value calculated for IHT calculations on death?
Market value of assets at date of death
What special rule exists for value of related property for IHT calculations on death?
If assets owned by spouses are more valuable when valued together, each party’s share is valued at their proportionate share of whole value
What special rule exists for value of joint property for IHT calculations on death?
For land co-owned as joint tenants or tenants in common, deceased’s share is reduced by 10-15% to reflect difficulty in selling a share of the property rather than the whole
Only applies where co-owners are not married