UK Act of Parliament 1984 United Kingdom

Inheritance Tax Act 1984

At a glance

Enforced by

HMRC

What's here

18 compliance obligations, 2 practical guides · 4 journeys

Penalty landscape

3 of 18 obligations carry a fine up to £3,000. 2 carry different penalties and 13 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Who this Act binds

Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.

  • Any Person 7
  • Trustee 1
  • Responsible Person 1

Plus 9 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.

Relevant guidance

Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.

Mentioned in related content

1 guides

Other Acts binding the same actors

For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.

What this Act requires

Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.

Part I — GENERAL

Browse 40 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.003

Potentially exempt transfers.

s.006

“Long-term UK resident”: individuals

s.006

“Long-term UK resident”: young persons

s.006

“Long-term UK resident”: bodies corporate

s.008

Transfer of unused nil-rate band between spouses and civil partners

s.008

Claims under section 8A

s.008

Section 8A and subsequent charges

s.008

Extra nil-rate band on death if interest in home goes to descendants etc

s.008

Residence nil-rate amount: interest in home goes to descendants etc

s.008

Residence nil-rate amount: no interest in home goes to descendants etc

s.008

Downsizing addition: entitlement: low-value death interest in home

s.008

Downsizing addition: entitlement: no residential interest at death

s.008

Downsizing addition: effect: section 8E case

s.008

Downsizing addition: effect: section 8F case

s.008

Calculation of lost relievable amount

s.008

Meaning of “brought-forward allowance”

s.008

Meaning of “qualifying residential interest” , “qualifying former residential interest” and “residential property interest”

s.008

Qualifying former residential interest”: interests in possession

s.008

Meaning of “inherited”

s.008

Meaning of “closely inherited”

s.008

Claims for brought-forward allowance and downsizing addition

s.008

Residence nil-rate amount: cases involving conditional exemption

s.012

Pension drawdown fund not used up: no deemed disposition

s.013

Dispositions by close companies to employee-ownership trusts

Part II — EXEMPT TRANSFERS

s.035

Variation of undertakings.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunal may force variation of tax undertakings Tribunal / Court
Browse 31 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part III — SETTLED PROPERTY

s.079

Variation of undertakings.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Tribunal may vary tax undertakings if you refuse HMRC proposals Tribunal / Court
Browse 86 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.046

Contract of life insurance entered into before 22nd March 2006 which on that day is settled property in which interest in possession subsists

s.046

Contract of life insurance entered into before 22nd March 2006 which immediately before that day is property to which section 71 applies

s.047

Settlement power

s.048

Commencement of settlement

s.048

Excluded property: property situated outside the UK etc

s.049

Immediate post-death interest

s.049

Transitional serial interests

s.049

Transitional serial interest: interest to which person becomes entitled during period 22nd March 2006 to 5th October 2008

s.049

Transitional serial interest: interest to which person becomes entitled on death of spouse or civil partner on or after 6th October 2008

s.049

Transitional serial interest: contracts of life insurance

s.054

Special rate of charge where settled property affected by potentially exempt transfer.

s.054

Provisions supplementary to section 54A.

s.055

Purchased settlement powers

s.057

Relief where property enters maintenance fund.

s.062

Same-day additions

s.062

Same day additions: exceptions

s.062

Protected settlements

s.071

Trusts for bereaved minors

s.071

Charge to tax on property to which section 71A applies

s.071

Sections 71A and 71B: meaning of “bereaved minor”

s.071

Age 18-to-25 trusts

s.071

Charge to tax on property to which section 71D applies

s.071

Calculation of tax charged under section 71E in certain cases

s.071

Calculation of tax charged under section 71E in all other cases

s.071

Sections 71A to 71G: meaning of “parent”

s.074

Arrangements involving acquisition of interest in settled property etc

s.074

Section 74A: supplementary provision

s.074

Interpretation of sections 74A and 74B

s.075

Property becoming subject to employee-ownership trust

s.075

Cap on charges for pre-30 October 2024 excluded property

s.081

Reversionary interests in relevant property

s.081

Excluded property: property to which section 80 applies

s.082

Excluded property: property to which section 81 applies (new cases)

s.089

Self-settlement by person expected to fall within the definition of “disabled person”

s.089

Meaning of “disabled person's interest”

s.089

Disabled person's interest: powers of advancement etc

Part V — MISCELLANEOUS RELIEFS

s.109

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

Amended 1 time
s.150

Certain pension interests treated as part of estate

Amended 1 time
s.151

Person dying with alternatively secured pension fund

Amended 14 times
s.151

Relevant dependant with pension fund inherited from member over 75

Amended 14 times
s.151

Rate or rates of charge under section 151B

Amended 14 times
s.151

Dependant dying with other pension fund

Amended 14 times
s.151

Unauthorised payment where person dies over 75 with pension or annuity

Amended 14 times
s.151

Rate or rates of charge under section 151D

Amended 14 times
s.155

Death of constables and service personnel targeted because of their status

Amended 6 times
s.155

Foreign diplomats etc

Amended 6 times
Browse 41 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
s.113

Transfers within seven years before death of transferor.

s.113

Application of section 113A to replacement property.

s.124

Transfers within seven years before death of transferor.

s.124

Application of section 124A to replacement property.

s.124

Environmental management agreements

s.124

100% relief allowance

s.124

Transfer of unused 100% relief allowance

s.124

Claims under section 124E

s.124

100% trust relief allowance (relevant property)

s.124

Trust maximum allowance

s.124

Trust maximum allowance (qualifying pre-commencement settlements)

s.124

100% trust relief allowance (special trusts)

s.124

100% trust relief allowance (age 18-to-25 trusts)

s.141

Apportionment of relief under section 141

s.153

Death of emergency service personnel etc

s.153

Qualifying payments

s.159

Treatment of dormant assets

Part VI — VALUATION

s.162

Liabilities attributable to financing excluded property

Amended 2 times
s.162

Liabilities attributable to financing non-residents' foreign currency accounts

Amended 2 times
s.162

Liabilities attributable to financing certain relievable property

Amended 2 times
s.162

Sections 162A , 162AA and 162B: supplementary provision

Amended 2 times
Browse 34 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part VII — LIABILITY

s.214

Certificates of tax paid.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • HMRC must provide a certificate of Inheritance Tax paid upon request Statutory regulator
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part VIII — ADMINISTRATION AND COLLECTION

s.218

Instruments varying dispositions taking effect on death

Fine up to £3,000 Amended 1 time
  • Notify HMRC of changes to a will that increase Inheritance Tax Responsible Person
s.218

Pensions: information powers

Amended 1 time
s.219

Power to call for documents etc.

Amended 7 times
s.219

Appeal against requirement to produce documents etc.

Amended 7 times
s.220

Exchange of information with other countries.

Amended 1 time
s.223

Appeal: HMRC review or determination by tribunal

Amended 1 time
s.223

Appellant requires review by HMRC

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • HMRC must review a tax decision if you request it Statutory regulator
s.223

HMRC offer review

Amended 1 time
s.223

Notifying appeal to the tribunal

Amended 1 time
s.223

Nature of review etc

Amended 1 time
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • HMRC must conduct reviews and notify you of the outcome within 45 days Statutory regulator
s.223

Effect of conclusions of review

Amended 1 time
s.223

Notifying appeal to tribunal after review concluded

Amended 1 time
s.223

Notifying appeal to tribunal after review offered but not accepted

Amended 1 time
s.223

Interpretation of sections 223A to 223I

Amended 1 time
s.225

Extension of regulation-making powers.

Amended 2 times
s.226

Tax on notional pension property: withholding of benefits

Amended 6 times
s.226

Tax on notional pension property: direct payment by scheme administrator

Amended 6 times
s.232

Administration actions.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Courts must ensure unpaid Inheritance Tax is paid from property in leur control Tribunal / Court
s.240

Underpayments: supplementary

Amended 7 times
s.240

Underpayments involving offshore matters etc

Amended 7 times
s.241

Overpayments.

Amended 2 times
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • HMRC must repay overpaid Inheritance Tax and interest Statutory regulator
s.245

Failure to provide information etc.

Amended 6 times
Browse 12 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Part IX — MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY

s.267

Limited liability partnerships.

Amended 8 times
s.267

Election to be treated as domiciled in United Kingdom

Amended 8 times
s.267

Section 267ZA: further provision about election

Amended 8 times
s.267

Election to be treated as a long-term UK resident

Amended 8 times
s.267

Further provision about elections under section 267ZC

Amended 8 times
s.267

Subject of domicile election treated as a long-term UK resident

Amended 8 times
s.267

Double taxation conventions operating by reference to deemed domicile

Amended 8 times
s.273

Transition from estate duty.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • HMRC must apply transitional rules for old estate duty cases Statutory regulator
Browse 14 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement

Schedules

Browse 108 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
s.sch001a

Gifts to charities etc : tax charged at lower rate

s.sch001a

(1) This Schedule applies if— (a) a chargeable transfer is...

s.sch001a

In this Schedule, in relation to D— “ the chargeable...

s.sch001a

(1) If the charitable giving condition is met—

s.sch001a

(1) For the purposes of paragraph 2, the components of...

s.sch001a

The donated amount, for a component of the estate, is...

s.sch001a

The baseline amount, for a component of the estate, is...

s.sch001a

(1) For the purpose of calculating the donated amount and...

s.sch001a

(1) An election may be made under this paragraph if,...

s.sch001a

(1) If an election is made under this paragraph in...

s.sch001a

(1) An election under this Schedule must be made by...

s.sch002

In this Schedule— (a) references to a reduction are to...

s.sch002

Where a person who has made a potentially exempt transfer...

s.sch002

Where a person who has made a chargeable transfer other...

s.sch002

Where tax is chargeable under section 65 of this Act...

s.sch002

Where the value of any trees or underwood has been...

s.sch002

Where tax is chargeable under section 32 or 32A of...

s.sch002

Where tax is chargeable under paragraph 8 of Schedule 4...

s.sch002

Where tax is chargeable under section 151B of this Act...

s.sch004

(1) If the conditions mentioned in paragraph 2(1) below are...

s.sch004

(1) Tax shall not be charged under paragraph 8 above...

s.sch004

(1) This paragraph applies where tax is chargeable under paragraph...

s.sch004

(1) This paragraph applies where tax is chargeable under paragraph...

s.sch004

(1) The first rate is the aggregate of the following...

s.sch004

(1) If the settlor is alive, the second rate is...

s.sch004

Where property is, by virtue of paragraph 1(3) above, treated...

s.sch004

(1) In relation to settled property to which this paragraph...

s.sch004

(1) Tax shall not be charged under section 65 of...

s.sch004

(1) Tax shall not be charged under section 65 of...

s.sch004

In paragraphs 16(2) and 17(4) above the references to the...

s.sch004

(1) The conditions referred to in paragraph 1 above are—...

s.sch004

(1) The requirements referred to in paragraph 2(1)(a)(i) above are...

s.sch004

(1) Paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 3(1) above do...

s.sch004

If in the Treasury’s opinion the facts concerning any property...

s.sch004

Where a direction under paragraph 1 above has effect in...

s.sch004

Where a direction under paragraph 1 above has effect in...

s.sch004

(1) This paragraph applies to settled property which is held...

s.sch004

(1) Tax shall not be charged under paragraph 8 above...

s.sch005

(1) Where, under section 31 of the Finance Act 1975,...

s.sch005

(1) The following provisions of this paragraph shall have effect...

s.sch005

(1) Where, under subsection (2) of section 34 of the...

s.sch005

The tax chargeable under paragraph 3 above with respect to...

s.sch005

(1) The further undertaking referred to in paragraph 1 above...

s.sch005

A sale complies with this paragraph if—

s.sch005a

Qualifying payments: victims of persecution during Second World War era

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount from the German foundation...

s.sch005a

A one-off payment of a fixed amount from the Kindertransport...

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount in accordance with the...

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount from the Hardship Fund...

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount from the National Fund...

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount in respect of a...

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount by the Swiss Refugee...

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount under the foundation established...

s.sch005a

A one-off payment of a fixed amount from the scheme...

s.sch005a

A payment of a fixed amount from the Child Survivor...

s.sch006

References in any enactment, in any instrument made under any...

s.sch006

In determining for the purposes of this Act the value...

s.sch006

(1) Where a reversionary interest in settled property was before...

s.sch006

(1) In its application to a sale which does not...

s.sch007

In this Schedule “the repealed enactments” means the enactments repealed...

s.sch007

Section 220 of this Act shall come into force on...

s.sch007

Any order made under section 233 of this Act shall...

s.sch007

Where payments are made or assets transferred after the end...

s.sch007

Section 264 of this Act shall have effect (to the...

s.sch007

This Act shall not have effect in a case which...

s.sch007

Sections 126 to 130 of this Act shall have effect...

s.sch007

Where section 146 of this Act has effect in relation...

s.sch007

Section 147 of this Act, so far as it relates...

s.sch007

Section 150 of this Act shall have effect (to the...

s.sch007

Section 203 of this Act shall have effect (to the...

s.sch007

Section 218 of this Act, and section 245 so far...

s.sch007

Section 219 of this Act, and section 245 so far...

s.sch008

In section 8(1) of the National Heritage Act 1980 after...

s.sch008

In section 12(3) of the National Heritage Act 1980 for...

s.sch008

In section 13(3) of the National Heritage Act 1980 after...

s.sch008

In section 14(1) of the National Heritage Act 1980, for...

s.sch008

(1) Section 52 of the Finance Act 1980 shall be...

s.sch008

(1) Section 53 of the Finance Act 1980 shall be...

s.sch008

In section 98 of the Finance Act 1980 for the...

s.sch008

In section 14(1)(b) of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947, for...

s.sch008

In section 109 of the Supreme Court Act 1981—

s.sch008

In section 61(1) of the Finance Act 1982—

s.sch008

In section 62 of the Finance Act 1982 for the...

s.sch008

In Group 11 of Schedule 6 to the Value Added...

s.sch008

(1) In section 2 of the Land Charges Act 1972—...

s.sch008

In section 49(4) of the Finance Act 1975 after the...

s.sch008

In section 38 of the Finance Act 1977—

s.schedule a1 para.1

Property is not excluded property by virtue of section 6(1)...

s.schedule a1 para.10

In this Schedule “ partnership ” means—

s.schedule a1 para.2

(1) This paragraph applies to an interest in a close...

s.schedule a1 para.3

This paragraph applies to— (a) the rights of a creditor...

s.schedule a1 para.4

(1) For the purposes of this Schedule a loan is...

s.schedule a1 para.5

(1) This paragraph applies to— (a) property which constitutes consideration...

s.schedule a1 para.6

(1) In determining whether or to what extent property situated...

s.schedule a1 para.7

(1) Nothing in any double taxation relief arrangements made with...

s.schedule a1 para.7a

In this Schedule “ relevant UK property ” means—

s.schedule a1 para.7b

(1) In this Schedule “ UK agricultural property ” means...

s.schedule a1 para.8

(1) In this Schedule “ UK residential property interest ”...

s.schedule a1 para.9

(1) In this Schedule— “ close company ” means a...

Other sections — not classified into a Part

These sections sit outside the numbered Parts — usually provisions added or moved by later amendments.

Browse 3 other sections
s.non-excluded overseas property

Non-excluded overseas property

s.para.440

The National Gallery. The British Museum. The National Museums of...

s.table of derivations

TABLE OF DERIVATIONS

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

HM Revenue & Customs

Tax collection, customs duties, national insurance, tax credits, and enforcement of the National Minimum Wage. Regulates all UK businesses for tax compliance …

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