IHTM04286 - Reversionary interests: reversions and foreign issues

A reversionary interest ( IHTM16000) is an item of property, ( IHTM04030) separate from the property in which the interest subsists.

If the reversionary interest is itself situated ( IHTM27071) outside the UK then, unless the interest is excluded by the main provision in IHTA84/S48 (1), you should proceed as follows

• an unsettled reversion will be excluded property ( IHTM04251) if the transferor is domiciled ( IHTM13000) abroad, IHTA84/S6 (1),
• a reversion which is itself comprised in a settlement ( IHTM16000) will be excluded if the settlor ( IHTM16000) of the reversion was domiciled abroad when the reversion was settled, IHTA84/S48 (3).

The situs or locality of a reversionary interest will normally be determined by the residence of the trustee(s) of the property to which the interest relates.

Example 1

A transfers £100,000 to trustees in Spain on trust for B for life with remainder to the settlor’s wife, Mrs A. Some years later, while B is alive, Mrs A dies domiciled in Spain and bequeaths all her estate (including her reversionary interest under A’s settlement) to her son C.

On Mrs A’s death the reversion is not excluded from her estate by IHTA84/S48 (1) because she is the settlor’s spouse. But the exclusion provided by IHTA84/S6 (1) applies as both the locality on the reversion and Mrs A’s domicile are outside the UK.

Example 2

The facts are as Example 1 and C sells the inherited reversion to D. The latter, also domiciled in Spain, immediately settles the purchased reversion on discretionary trusts.

The reversion now comprised in D’s settlement, although purchased by the settlor and therefore outside the protection of IHTA84/S48 (1), is (whilst it remains a reversionary interest) excluded property in view of D’s foreign domicile and the overseas residence of the trustees of A’s settlement.