Executors of the estate of Ross v HMRC [2018] WTLR 1417

Winter 2018 #170

Mrs Ross originally owned a hotel called the Port Gaverne Inn in Cornwall and later acquired eight holiday cottages across the road called the Green Door Cottages. When she was no longer fit enough to run the business, the hotel was sold though its new owner agreed to provide services to guests renting out the cottages. A handyman was employed by the partnership which owned the cottages and other properties. When Mrs Ross died on 7 November 2011, she was entitled to a two-thirds share in the partnership and the total value of all the properties held by it amounted to £1.5m. The appellant...

Trustees of the P Panayi Accumulation & Maintenance Settlements v HMRC
 [2018] WTLR 1497

Winter 2018 #170

In 1992 a Cypriot national, Panico Panayi, settled 40% of the shares of Cambos Enterprises Limited on the trusts of four Settlements for the benefit of his children and other family members. At the time the trusts were created, both the settlor and the trustees were resident in the United Kingdom. Subsequently, the settlor and his wife decided to return to Cyprus. On 19 August 2004 new trustees were appointed, all resident in Cyprus. As a result, a majority of the trustees ceased to be resident in the United Kingdom. When the trustees filed tax returns for the year 2004/2005, they failed...

Henderson & ors v HMRC [2017] WTLR 949

Autumn 2017 #169

The appellants were the four children of Nicholas Henderson. They appealed under s42 of the Income Tax (Earnings and Pensions Act) 2003 and s207 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988, against HMRC determinations that they had all been domiciled in the UK since their birth. Strictly this appeal only related to tax years prior to 2008-2009, as a new statutory regime governs appeals relating to questions of domicile thereafter.

The parties were agreed that the appeals could be determined by reference to three questions:

  1. (1) Had Ian Hende...

Vigne v HMRC [2017] WTLR 1193

Autumn 2017 #169

The deceased died on 29 May 2012. At the time she was the sole beneficial owner of 30 acres of land (the land) used for carrying out a livery business. The business provided less than ‘part livery’ (ie day-to-day care being shared between the livery operator and horse owner) but more than ‘DIY Livery’ (ie a right to reside in a field plus a stable). For example the business provided worming products for the horses and hay feed during winter months.

The deceased’s personal representatives claimed BPR on the ground that the land was ‘relevant busi...

Revell v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 97 (TC)

Summer 2017 #168

On 10 December 2014, HMRC purported to close an enquiry into the appellant’s self-assessment for the year 2008/2009 by making amendments to the return so as to increase the tax due for that year to £16,518.60. The appellant appealed this decision principally on the basis that HMRC had failed properly to serve on him a request to file a self-assessment return.

HMRC had carried out a reconciliation of the appellant’s PAYE records showing a significant underpayment. HMRC sent a self-assessment return to what it thought was the appellant’s last known address. He did ...

Carrasco & anr v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 0731 (TC)

January/February 2017 #166

Mrs Carrasco inherited a London property known as 33 Smith Terrace, Chelsea in June 1988 (‘the property’). She subsequently vested the property in herself and her husband Javier Carrasco by way of a Deed of Gift.

The property was let to tenants from June 1998 to late June 2010. In 2010 it was put up for sale. Exchange of contracts took place on 25 May 2010, and completion took place on 23 July 2010. The appellants moved into the property on 29 June 2010 and resided there until 22 July 2010.

In April 2012, and upon professional advice, the appellants executed a p...

Salinger & anr v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 677 (TC)

December 2016 #165

Donald Paiba Salinger (deceased), who was domiciled in the UK, sought to reduce the inheritance tax burden which would arise on his death by acquiring a reversionary interest in an offshore trust on the basis that it would qualify as excluded property (s48(1) of the Inheritance Tax Act 1984) and then transfer that reversionary interest to the trustees of the Donald Salinger Family Trust (DSFT) on the basis that no loss to the estate would be caused and thus not constitute a transfer of value. These transactions took place before legislation designed to block similar tax...

Sussman v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 523 (TC)

October 2016 #163

The appellant was the personal representative and trustee of the estate of Mrs Sussman (the deceased) who died in 2006. The appeal concerned whether a residential property (the property) was part of the deceased’s estate, and the treatment of the property for IHT purposes. The appeal also concerned appeals out of time, as the appellant’s application to bring an appeal out of time was heard as a preliminary matter immediately before the substantive appeal.

The property had belonged to the deceased’s late husband. The deceased received an interest in possession in ...

Edwards-Moss & anr v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 147 (TC)

July/August 2016 #161

This appeal concerned the estate of Lady Edwards-Moss (the deceased) who died on 8 February 2007. The executors of her estate appealed against a determination under s221 IHTA 1984. HMRC argued that the liability arose on two alternative bases. First, the transfer of a freehold farm in return for an annuity on 23 January 2007 (very shortly before her death) was ineffective (either on the basis that it was legally ineffective or under the reservation of benefit rules). Alternatively, this was a transfer at an undervalue, and therefore a transfer of value on which an IHT liability ...

Gedir v HMRC [2016] UKFTT 188 (TC)

June 2016 #160

In 2008, the appellant (A) was employed by Bear Stearns in the risk arbitrage unit before and during the period that it was acquired by JP Morgan. A received an offer from JP Morgan to continue to work in his role at the bank, which he accepted. But ultimately in September 2008, he took up a role with Goldman Sachs instead along with other members of his team at Bear Stearns. On leaving Goldman Sachs in 2010, A received a termination payment of £627,965 which he reported in his tax return.

A claimed foreign service relief on the termination payment. The ‘foreign service’ related t...