IHTM23033 - Making a referral to
the VOA: when to make a referral to the VOA
When considering the timing of a referral to the VOA (
IHTM23002)
- do not defer this until all details of all
aspects are available. If you can request a valuation of the
majority of IHT405 items, do so and flag up what is to follow (e.g.
a plan/OS reference relating to one of the subsidiary items).
- if it is known that a sale of the property
is imminent, or that there is likely to be a material change to the
property, alert the VOA and get things started, as far as
practicable. The VOA can then make an early inspection.
- similar principles to apply to
‘multi-unit’ (
IHTM23228) cases – in other
words, send a referral to each particular unit as soon as
practicable.
- bear in mind, in appropriate cases, the
relevance of business relief (
IHTM25131), as an alternative to
agricultural relief (
IHTM24001). For example, for hope value
on land used in an agricultural business, for woodland and for
parts of a house that you do not consider qualify as agricultural
property (
IHTM24036)). Flag this up to the VOA,
if it is evident from the information supplied by the taxpayer. If
the matter comes to light later, once the VOA visits the property,
the VOA should contact you at an early stage.
- give as much background information on the
property as possible using the VOA 3 (
IHTM23045) or a memo at the request
stage to reinforce your request.
