ACCA ATX UK Syllabus A3. Inheritance Tax - Excluded Property - Notes 2 / 3
UK vs non-UK domiciled individuals
When a person is UK domiciled they must pay IHT on UK and overseas located assets
A non-UK domiciled individual is only liable to IHT on his UK assets.
Therefore, property that will be excluded from the IHT computation is:
Property situated overseas where the owner is not UK domiciled.
This is because, someone who is UK domiciled will pay IHT on their worldwide assets, but someone who is not UK domiciled will pay IHT on their UK located assets.
Therefore, it is necessary to be able to identify where in the world an asset is deemed to be located for IHT purposes, to see whether a non-UK domiciled person needs to pay UK IHT.
Description of asset | Location |
---|---|
Land and buildings, freehold or leasehold | Physical location |
Chattels (Movable, tangible possessions) | Physical location at time of transfer |
Receivables | Where debtor resides |
Bank accounts | Location of branch which maintains the account |
Business or an interest in a business | Place where business is carried on |
Registered shares and securities | Place where shares are registered |
Government securities | Place of registration |
Life assurance policies | Place were proceeds are payable |
Illustration
Sam has lived in the UK for the last 6 years, however he is not UK domiciled.
He owns the following property:
Freehold property situated in the UK
Leasehold property situated in the USA
Shares in USA Inc., a company quoted and registered on the US stock exchange.
Will Sam be liable to IHT if he makes transfers all of his property?
Solution
He will be chargeable to IHT on UK located assets.
The freehold property is situated in the UK and so is a chargeable asset for IHT.
The leasehold property is situated in the USA, and therefore is not a chargeable asset for IHT.
The shares is USA Inc. are registered in the USA and are therefore not a chargeable asset for IHT.