{"id":834,"date":"2023-04-20T22:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-04-20T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ctt-group.co.uk\/tax-trust\/?p=834"},"modified":"2023-09-27T10:53:14","modified_gmt":"2023-09-27T09:53:14","slug":"a-guide-to-agricultural-relief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ctt-group.co.uk\/tax-trust\/a-guide-to-agricultural-relief\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guide to Agricultural Property Relief"},"content":{"rendered":"
Have any of your clients ever owned assets during their lifetime that meet the Agricultural Property Relief (AR)<\/a> requirements?<\/p>\n This guide explains how to identify and manage agricultural assets, so you can ensure your clients maximise and secure AR.<\/p>\n When receiving instructions and advising on planning, you must understand the nature of your clients’ agricultural activities. This knowledge will help you satisfy HMRC\u2019s requirements when applying for AR. Furthermore, you should advise your clients to keep a record of any agricultural property and the agricultural use and purpose of their assets.<\/p>\n Clients should review their planning regularly or when a significant change occurs. Regular reviews will enable them to establish further planning or stay informed about legislation changes that may affect their already established planning.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n In simple terms, AR is a relief from inheritance tax (\u2018IHT\u2019).<\/p>\n Depending on their circumstance, your clients will either receive the relief at 100% (ensuring they don’t need to pay any IHT) or at 50% when specific requirements are not satisfied. To ensure your clients qualify, it is crucial you understand what classes as Agricultural Property (AP).<\/p>\n Although IHT legislation does not define what constitutes agriculture property, the Inheritance Tax Act 1984 s115(2) (\u2018IHTA 1984\u2019) outlines the types of property and land that come under the banner of \u2018agricultural property.\u2019 Within section 115(2), AP is outlined as:<\/p>\n The IHTA 1984 s115 also distinguishes that the following territories grant Agricultural Property Relief:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There are three significant cases to note when discussing whether or not a property is agricultural in nature and therefore qualifies for Agricultural Property Relief.<\/p>\n The case of <\/strong>Richard Williams (Personal representative of Mary Philomena Williams deceased) v HMRC [2005] (SpC500)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Firstly, this case discussed the term \u2018ancillary,\u2019 and its use in <\/em>s115 (2) IHTA 1984 and whether chicken broiler houses were of a \u2018character appropriate\u2019 to qualify for AR. In short, the three broiler houses were described as farm buildings. However, they would only pass the \u2018test\u2019 in s115 (2) if they were an \u2018add-on.\u2019 Unfortunately, because there was no evidence of wider agricultural activities, it failed this test and AR was not available.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The case of <\/strong>Lloyds TSB Bank Plc (Antrobus Deceased) v Inland Revenue (No 1): SCIT 17 Oct 2002<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Secondly, when determining the status of a farmhouse, this case considers several factors to establish whether the \u2018character [is] appropriate to the property\u2019 – in essence, it evaluates the relationship between farming activities and the client\u2019s property. The factors considered include the \u2018size,\u2019 \u2018proportion\u2019 and nature of the house relative to the farming activities. Furthermore, the case considers whether an educated rural layman would consider the property a farm or a house with land.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Dixon v Inland Revenue [2001] UK SPC 00297 (22 October 2001)<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n This last case determined whether a cottage, garden and orchard would be considered AP. Excess fruit from the land had been sold and neighbouring farmers utilised the ground for animals to graze. The court considered and found that the cottage did not have the relevant attributions to be considered AP. The court concluded that the property was not agricultural as the owner had not relied on the activities for her livelihood.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When taking instructions, you must understand how long clients have owned the AP. To satisfy the conditions of AR, clients will need to demonstrate and show the length of their ownership, as well as the status of occupation prior to the lifetime gift or transfer on death as outlined in IHTA 1984, s117.<\/p>\n To claim AR, clients will therefore need to satisfy one of the two conditions:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n When taking instructions from your clients, ensure you have a complete understanding of all the assets they hold; this is to ensure that AR is applied for and not wasted. It is worth considering whether clients will adequately deal with agricultural property.<\/p>\n When agricultural property is held in Trust, the legal owners are the trustees. The trustees are legally responsible for the management of the property and are considered the occupiers of AR.<\/p>\n There are several key questions to consider:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Do you have any further questions about Agricultural Relief? CTT Group\u2019s advisors are on hand to help you with your queries and ensure your clients don\u2019t waste opportunities for AR. Get in touch<\/a> today for support.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\tWhat is Agricultural Property Relief?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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The Case Law<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Period of Ownership<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Ownership and Trusts<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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Help Clients to Maximise and Secure Agricultural Relief<\/strong><\/h3>\n