Inheritance Tax Act 1984

Interpretation U.K.

58 Relevant property. U.K.

(1) In this Chapter “relevant property” means settled property in which no qualifying interest in possession subsists, other than—

(a) property held for charitable purposes only, whether for a limited time or otherwise;

(b) property to which section 71, [F1 71A, 71D,] 73, 74 or 86 below applies [F2 (but see subsection (1A) below)] ;

(c) property held on trusts which comply with the requirements mentioned in paragraph 3(1) of Schedule 4 to this Act, and in respect of which a direction given under paragraph 1 of that Schedule has effect;

[F3 (d) property which is held for the purposes of a registered pension scheme [F4 , a qualifying non-UK pension scheme or a]section 615(3) scheme;]

(e) property comprised in a trade or professional compensation fund;

[F5 (ea) property comprised in an asbestos compensation settlement, F6 . . . ]

[F7 (eb) property comprised in a decommissioning security settlement; and]

(f) excluded property.

[F8 (1A) Settled property to which section 86 below applies is “relevant property” for the purposes of this Chapter if—

(a) an interest in possession subsists in that property, and

(b) that interest falls within subsection (1B) or (1C) below.

(1B) An interest in possession falls within this subsection if—

(a) an individual is beneficially entitled to the interest in possession,

(b) the individual became beneficially entitled to the interest in possession on or after 22nd March 2006, and

(c) the interest in possession is—

(i) not an immediate post-death interest,

(ii) not a disabled person's interest, and

(iii) not a transitional serial interest.

(1C) An interest in possession falls within this subsection if—

(a) a company is beneficially entitled to the interest in possession,

(b) the business of the company consists wholly or mainly in the acquisition of interests in settled property,

(c) the company has acquired the interest in possession for full consideration in money or money's worth from an individual who was beneficially entitled to it,

(d) the individual became beneficially entitled to the interest in possession on or after 22nd March 2006, and

(e) immediately before the company acquired the interest in possession, the interest in possession was neither an immediate post-death interest nor a transitional serial interest.]

(2) The reference in subsection (1)(d) above to property which is F9 . . . held for the purposes of a F9 . . . scheme does not include a reference to a benefit which, having become payable under the F9 . . . scheme, becomes comprised in a settlement.

[F10 (2A) For the purposes of subsection (1)(d) above—

(a) property applied to pay lump sum death benefits within section 168(1) of the Finance Act 2004 in respect of a member of a registered pension scheme is to be taken to be held for the purposes of the scheme from the time of the member's death until the payment is made, and

(b) property applied to pay lump sum death benefits in respect of a member of [F11 a qualifying non-UK pension scheme or] a section 615(3) scheme is to be taken to be so held if the benefits are paid within the period of two years beginning with the earlier of the day on which the member's death was first known to the trustees or other persons having the control of the fund and the day on which they could first reasonably be expected to have known of it.]

(3) In subsection (1)(e) above “trade or professional compensation fund” means a fund which is maintained or administered by a representative association of persons carrying on a trade or profession and the only or main objects of which are compensation for or relief of losses or hardship that, through the default or alleged default of persons carrying on the trade or profession or of their agents or servants, are incurred or likely to be incurred by others.

[F12 (4) In subsection (1)(ea) above “asbestos compensation settlement” means a settlement—

(a) the sole or main purpose of which is making compensation payments to or in respect of individuals who have, or had before their death, an asbestos-related condition, and

(b) which is made before 24 March 2010 in pursuance of an arrangement within subsection (5) below.

(5) An arrangement is within this subsection if it is—

(a) a voluntary arrangement that has taken effect under Part 1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 or Part 2 of the Insolvency (Northern Ireland) Order 1989,

(b) a compromise or arrangement that has taken effect under section 425 of the Companies Act 1985, Article 418 of the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986 or Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006, or

(c) an arrangement or compromise of a kind corresponding to any of those mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) above that has taken effect under, or as a result of, the law of a country or territory outside the United Kingdom.]

[F13 (6) For the purposes of subsection (1)(eb) above a settlement is a “decommissioning security settlement” if the sole or main purpose of the settlement is to provide security for the performance of obligations under an abandonment programme.

(7) In subsection (6)—

• “abandonment programme” means an abandonment programme approved under Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (including such a programme as revised);

• “security” has the same meaning as in section 38A of that Act.]

Textual Amendments

F1 Words in s. 58(1)(b) inserted (22.3.2006) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 156, Sch. 20 paras. 7, 18

F2 Words in s. 58(1)(b) inserted (22.3.2006) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 156, Sch. 20 paras. 7, 19(2)

F3 S. 58(1)(d) substituted (6.4.2006) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), ss. 203(3), 284 (with Sch. 36)

F4 Words in s. 58(1)(d) substituted (retrospective to 6.4.2006) by Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), s. 92, Sch. 29 para. 18(3)(a)(8)

F5 S. 58(1)(ea) substituted (retrospective to 6.4.2006) for word at end of s. 58(1)(e) by Finance (No. 3) Act 2010 (c. 33), s. 31, Sch. 14 para. 1(2)(4)

F6 Word in s. 58(1) omitted (retrospective to 20.3.1993) by virtue of Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), s. 86(2)(4) (with s. 86(5)(6))

F7 S. 58(1)(eb) and word inserted (retrospective to 20.3.1993) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), s. 86(2)(4) (with s. 86(5)(6))

F8 S. 58(1A)-(1C) inserted (22.3.2006) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 156, Sch. 20 paras. 7, 19(3)

F9 Words in s. 58(2) repealed (6.4.2006) by Finance Act 2004 (c. 12), s. 326, Sch. 42 Pt. 3 (with Sch. 36)

F10 S. 58(2A) inserted (with effect in relation to lump sum death benefits paid on or after 6.4.2006) by Finance Act 2007 (c. 11), s. 70, Sch. 20 paras. 20, 24(9)

F11 Words in s. 58(2A)(b) inserted (retrospective to 6.4.2006) by Finance Act 2008 (c. 9), s. 92, Sch. 29 para. 18(3)(b)(8)

F12 S. 58(4)(5) inserted (retrospective to 6.4.2006) by Finance (No. 3) Act 2010 (c. 33), s. 31, Sch. 14 para. 1(3)(4)

F13 S. 58(5)(6) inserted (retrospective to 20.3.1993) by Finance Act 2013 (c. 29), s. 86(3)(4) (with s. 86(5)(6))

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 S. 58 applied (6.4.2006) by The Pension Protection Fund (Tax) Regulations 2006 (S.I. 2006/575), reg. 33

59 Qualifying interest in possession. U.K.

[F14 (1) In this Chapter “qualifying interest in possession” means—

(a) an interest in possession—

(i) to which an individual is beneficially entitled, and

(ii) which, if the individual became beneficially entitled to the interest in possession on or after 22nd March 2006, is an immediate post-death interest, a disabled person's interest or a transitional serial interest, or

(b) an interest in possession to which, where subsection (2) below applies, a company is beneficially entitled.]

(2) This subsection applies where—

(a) the business of the company consists wholly or mainly in the acquisition of interests in settled property, and

(b) the company has acquired the interest for full consideration in money or money’s worth from an individual who was beneficially entitled to it [F15 , and

(c) if the individual became beneficially entitled to the interest in possession on or after 22nd March 2006, the interest is an immediate post-death interest, or a disabled person's interest within section 89B(1)(c) or (d) below or a transitional serial interest, immediately before the company acquires it.]

(3) Where the acquisition mentioned in paragraph (b) of subsection (2) above was before 14th March 1975—

(a) the condition set out in paragraph (a) of that subsection shall be treated as satisfied if the business of the company was at the time of the acquisition such as is described in that paragraph, and

(b) that condition need not be satisfied [F16 if the company [F17 —

(i) is an insurance company (within the meaning of Part 2 of the Finance Act 2012), and

(ii) has permission under Part 4A of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 to effect or carry out contracts of long-term insurance.]]

[F18 (4) In subsection (3)(b) above “contracts of long-term insurance” means contracts which fall within Part II of Schedule 1 to the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Regulated Activities) Order 2001.]

Textual Amendments

F14 S. 59(1) substituted (22.3.2006) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 156, Sch. 20 para. 20(2)

F15 S. 59(2)(c) and preceding word inserted (22.3.2006) by Finance Act 2006 (c. 25), s. 156, Sch. 20 para. 20(3)

F16 Words in s. 59(3) substituted (1.5.1995 with effect as mentioned in s. 52(5) of the amending Act) by 1995 c. 4, s. 52(4)

F17 Words in s. 59(3)(b) substituted (31.1.2020) by The Taxes (Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/689), regs. 1, 3(2) (with regs. 39-41); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F18 S. 59(4) added (1.12.2001 with effect as mentioned in art. 5(4) of the amending S.I.) by S.I. 2001/3629, art. 5(1)(3)(4)

F19 60 Commencement of settlement. U.K.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Textual Amendments

F19 S. 60 omitted (with effect in accordance with s. 73(11) of the amending Act) by virtue of Finance Act 2020 (c. 14), s. 73(4)

61 Ten-year anniversary. U.K.

(1) In this Chapter “ten-year anniversary” in relation to a settlement means the tenth anniversary of the date on which the settlement commenced and subsequent anniversaries at ten-yearly intervals, but subject to subsections (2) to (4) below.

(2) The ten-year anniversaries of a settlement treated as made under section 80 below shall be the dates that are (or would but for that section be) the ten-year anniversaries of the settlement first mentioned in that section.

(3) No date falling before 1st April 1983 shall be a ten-year anniversary.

(4) Where—

(a) the first ten-year anniversary of a settlement would apart from this subsection fall during the year ending with 31st March 1984, and

(b) during that year an event occurs in respect of the settlement which could not have occurred except as the result of some proceedings before a court, and

(c) the event is one on which tax was chargeable under Chapter II of Part IV of the M1 Finance Act 1982 (or, apart from Part II of Schedule 15 to that Act, would have been so chargeable),

the first ten-year anniversary shall be taken to be 1st April 1984 (but without affecting the dates of later anniversaries).

Marginal Citations

M1 1982 c. 39.

62 Related settlements. U.K.

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter two settlements are related if and only if—

(a) the settlor is the same in each case, and

(b) they commenced on the same day,

but subject to subsection (2) below.

(2) Two settlements are not related for the purposes of this Chapter if all the property comprised in one or both of them was immediately after the settlement commenced held for charitable purposes only without limit of time (defined by a date or otherwise).

[F20 62A Same-day additions U.K.

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, there is a “same-day addition”, in relation to a settlement (“settlement A”), if—

(a) there is a transfer of value by a person as a result of which the value immediately afterwards of the property comprised in settlement A is greater than the value immediately before,

(b) as a result of the same transfer of value, or as a result of another transfer of value made by that person on the same day, the value immediately afterwards of the property comprised in another settlement (“settlement B”) is greater than the value immediately before,

(c) that person is the settlor of settlement A and settlement B,

(d) at any point in the relevant period, all or any part of the property comprised in settlement A was relevant property, and

(e) at that point, or at any other point in the relevant period, all or any part of the property comprised in settlement B was relevant property.

For exceptions, see section 62B.

(2) Where there is a same-day addition, references in this Chapter to its value are to the difference between the two values mentioned in subsection (1)(b).

(3) “The relevant period” means—

(a) in the case of settlement A, the period beginning with the commencement of settlement A and ending immediately after the transfer of value mentioned in subsection (1)(a), and

(b) in the case of settlement B, the period beginning with the commencement of settlement B and ending immediately after the transfer of value mentioned in subsection (1)(b)).

(4) The transfer or transfers of value mentioned in subsection (1) include a transfer or transfers of value as a result of which property first becomes comprised in settlement A or settlement B; but not if settlements A and B are related settlements.

(5) For the purposes of subsection (1) above, it is immaterial whether the amount of the property comprised in settlement A or settlement B (or neither) was increased as a result of the transfer or transfers of value mentioned in that subsection.

Textual Amendments

F20 Ss. 62A-62C inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 1 para. 7 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 1 para. 2

62B Same day additions: exceptions U.K.

(1) There is not a same-day addition for the purposes of this Chapter if any of the following conditions is met—

(a) immediately after the transfer of value mentioned in section 62A(1)(a) all the property comprised in settlement A was held for charitable purposes only without limit of time (defined by a date or otherwise),

(b) immediately after the transfer of value mentioned in section 62A(1)(b) all the property comprised in settlement B was so held,

(c) either or each of settlement A and settlement B is a protected settlement (see section 62C), and

(d) the transfer of value, or either or each of the transfers of value, mentioned in section 62A(1)(a) and (b)—

(i) results from the payment of a premium under a contract of life insurance the terms of which provide for premiums to be due at regular intervals of one year or less throughout the contract term, or

(ii) is made to fund such a payment.

(2) If the transfer of value, or each of the transfers of value, mentioned in section 62A(1) is not the transfer of value under section 4 on the settlor's death, there is a same-day addition for the purposes of this Chapter only if conditions A and B are met.

(3) Condition A is that—

(a) the difference between the two values mentioned in section 62A(1)(a) exceeds £5,000, or

(b) in a case where there has been more than one transfer of value within section 62A(1)(a) on the same day, the difference between—

(i) the value of the property comprised in settlement A immediately before the first of those transfers, and

(ii) the value of the property comprised in settlement A immediately after the last of those transfers,

exceeds £5,000.

(4) Condition B is that—

(a) the difference between the two values mentioned in section 62A(1)(b) exceeds £5,000, or

(b) in a case where there has been more than one transfer of value within section 62A(1)(b), the difference between—

(i) the value of the property comprised in settlement B immediately before the first of those transfers, and

(ii) the value of the property comprised in settlement B immediately after the last of those transfers,

exceeds £5,000.

Textual Amendments

F20 Ss. 62A-62C inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 1 para. 7 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 1 para. 2

62C Protected settlements U.K.

(1) For the purposes of this Chapter, a settlement is a “protected settlement” if it commenced before 10 December 2014 and either condition A or condition B is met.

(2) Condition A is met if there have been no transfers of value by the settlor on or after 10 December 2014 as a result of which the value of the property comprised in the settlement was increased.

(3) Condition B is met if—

(a) there has been a transfer of value by the settlor on or after 10 December 2014 as a result of which the value of the property comprised in the settlement was increased, and

(b) that transfer of value was the transfer of value under section 4 on the settlor's death before 6 April 2017 and it had the result mentioned by reason of a protected testamentary disposition.

(4) In subsection (3)(b) “protected testamentary disposition” means a disposition effected by provisions of the settlor's will that at the settlor's death are, in substance, the same as they were immediately before 10 December 2014.]

Textual Amendments

F20 Ss. 62A-62C inserted (with effect in accordance with Sch. 1 para. 7 of the amending Act) by Finance (No. 2) Act 2015 (c. 33), Sch. 1 para. 2

63 Minor interpretative provisions. U.K.

In this Chapter, unless the context otherwise requires—

• “payment” includes a transfer of assets other than money;

• “quarter” means period of three months.