Taxpayer Victory: Tribunal Grants Inheritance Tax Relief to Livery
Business Property Relief (BPR) can exempt assets from Inheritance Tax (IHT) on the basis that they were used in a genuine business, assuming all other qualifying criteria is met. It is not available where the business activity is wholly or predominantly holding investments.
In The Estate of Maureen W Vigne (deceased) v HMRC [2017], HMRC denied the BPR claim entered by the deceased’s representatives on the basis that her livery involved only the letting of land for the use of others, and the extent of the other services offered did not constitute a business.
The first tier tribunal, however, countered that the extra services demonstrated that the business was a genuine livery business and it clearly went beyond simply holding investments. They allowed the BPR claim.
The representatives had also claimed agricultural property relief (APR) on the basis that the asset constituted ‘agricultural property’. However, the tribunal held HMRC’s view that it did not. Equine activities are not usually characterised as agricultural.
Green & Co undertake inheritance tax reviews which consider an Estate’s exposure to IHT and planning opportunities. If you’d like any further information please contact us on 01633 871122.
Please note: This article is a commentary on general principles and should not be interpreted as advice for your specific situation.
