Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1889

CUSTOMS AND INLAND REVENUE ACT 1889

CHAPTER VII.

An Act to grant certain Duties of Customs and Inland Revenue, to alter other Duties, and to amend the Laws relating to Customs and Inland Revenue. [31st May 1889.]

[Preamble.]

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1889.

Part I.

Customs and Excise.

[S. 2 rep. 8 Edw. 7. c. 49 (S.L.R.).]

Increase of duty in respect of beer.

43 & 44 Vict. c. 20.

44 & 45 Vict. c. 12.

3.(1) The [1] duty of excise imposed by section eleven of the Inland Revenue Act, 1880, and the duty of Customs imposed by section three of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, in respect of beer by relation to worts of a specific gravity of one thousand and fifty-seven degrees, shall be charged, collected, levied, and paid . . . . in respect of beer by relation to worts of a specific gravity of one thousand and fifty-five degrees, and the said Acts shall be read and construed as if the gravity of one thousand and fifty-five degrees were therein substituted for the gravity of one thousand and fifty-seven degrees wherever such last-mentioned gravity is therein referred to.

(2) The provisions of section three of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, with respect to the descriptions of beer called mum, spruce, or black beer shall extend to the description of beer called Berlin white beer, and other preparations, whether fermented or not fermented, of a character similar to mum, spruce, or black beer.

Alteration of duty on a vinegar maker’s licence.

4. In lieu of the duties of excise payable on a licence to be taken out by every maker of vinegar or acetous acid for sale there shall be charged and paid . . . . the duty of one pound.

Part II.

Stamps.

Estate Duty.

Estate duty on personal property passing by will or on intestacy.

44 & 45 Vict. c. 12.

44 & 45 Vict. c. 12.

44 & 45 Vict. c. 12.

51 & 52 Vict. c. 41.

51 & 52 Vict. c. 60.

5. [2] —(1) Where, in the case of any person applying for probate or letters of administration granted in England or Ireland on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, or in the case of any person exhibiting an inventory in Scotland on or after that day, the value of the estate and effects in respect whereof duty is charged on the affidavit or inventory by section twenty-seven of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, exceeds ten thousand pounds, he shall together with such affidavit or inventory deliver a statement of the value of such estate and effects. The statement shall be transmitted with the affidavit or inventory to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue by the proper officer of the High Court in England or Ireland, or of the proper court in Scotland, and the certificate required under section thirty of the said Act shall extend to, and include the fact of the delivery of the statement.

(2) Where the value of the personal or moveable property included in an account delivered according to section thirty-eight of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, exceeds ten thousand pounds, the person delivering the Account shall also deliver together therewith a statement of the value of such property.

(3) Where pursuant to the provisions of section thirty-two of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, a further affidavit is required to be delivered by any person, and where any person intromitting with, or entering upon the possession or management of, any personal or moveable estate or effects in Scotland of any person dying, is required by law to exhibit an additional inventory, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) If the value of the estate and effects in respect whereof duty was charged on the former affidavit or inventory under section twenty-seven of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, exceeded ten thousand pounds, the person delivering the further affidavit or exhibiting the additional inventory shall deliver together therewith a statement of the value of the estate and effects included therein or of the increase of value of the estate and effects included in the former affidavit or inventory, as the case may be:

(b) If the value of the estate and effects in respect whereof duty has been charged under the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, did not exceed ten thousand pounds, and such value together with the value of the estate and effects included in the further affidavit or additional inventory delivered or exhibited or the increased value, as the case may be, exceeds ten thousand pounds, such person delivering the further affidavit or exhibiting the additional inventory shall deliver together therewith a statement of the value of the estate and effects included therein, and in the former affidavit or inventory, or of the value as increased of the estate and effects included in the former affidavit or inventory, as the case may be.

(4) There shall be charged and paid on every statement to be delivered in conformity with this section a duty of one pound for every full sum of one hundred pounds, and for any fraction of one hundred pounds over any multiple of one hundred pounds of the value of the estate and effects or of the personal or moveable property, as the case may be.

(5) The duties respectively imposed by this section are to be in addition to the stamp duties charged on the affidavit required from persons applying for probate or letters of administration in England or Ireland, and on the inventory exhibited and recorded in Scotland, and in addition to the stamp duties charged on such Accounts of personal and moveable property as are specified in section thirty-eight of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, as amended by this Act, but are not to be deemed “probate duties” within the meaning assigned to that expression by section twenty-one of the Local Government Act, 1888, or by section five of the Probate Duties (Scotland and Ireland) Act, 1888.[1]

(6) The provisions contained in section thirty-one of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, for the return of stamp duty overpaid, shall apply to the return of duty overpaid on any statement delivered under this section, and in Scotland a return of duty overpaid on any statement so delivered shall be made in like manner as a return is now made of stamp duty overpaid on an additional inventory.

(7) Where a further affidavit or additional inventory is delivered or exhibited of any estate or effects of a deceased person after a former affidavit or inventory of the estate and effects of the same person has been delivered or exhibited and recorded prior to the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, it shall not be necessary to deliver any statement of the value of the estate and effects of such person under this section.

Estate duty on successions.

16 & 17 Vict. c. 51.

51 & 52 Vict. c. 8.

44 & 45 Vict. c. 12.

16 & 17 Vict. c. 51.

51 & 52 Vict. c. 8.

16 & 17 Vict. c. 51.

51 & 52 Vict. c. 8.

6.[2] —(1) Where the value of any succession upon the death of any person dying on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine chargeable with duty under the Succession Duty Act, 1853, and the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1888, exceeds ten thousand pounds, and where the value of any succession to real property under the will or intestacy of any person so dying chargeable with duty under the said Act does not exceed ten thousand pounds, but such value together with the value of any other benefit taken by the successor under such will or intestacy exceeds ten thousand pounds, a separate statement of the value of the succession shall be delivered to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, together with the Account to be delivered under section forty-five of the said Act.

(2) There shall be charged and paid on every statement to be delivered in conformity with this section in respect of the value of the succession, a duty of one pound for every full sum of one hundred pounds, and for any fraction of one hundred pounds over any multiple of one hundred pounds of such value.

(3) The duty imposed by this section shall not be payable upon the value of leaseholds passing by will or devolution by law or of property included in an Account delivered according to section thirty-eight of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881, as amended by this Act, in respect of which value duty has been paid under the last preceding section.

(4) The duty imposed by this section is to be in addition to any duties chargeable under the Succession Duty Act, 1853, and section twenty-one of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1888, and shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be assessed and paid in like manner as succession duty, and be subject to the enactments relating to that duty, so far as the same are applicable.

(5) The value upon which the duty imposed by this section in respect of a succession to real property is to be charged and assessed shall be ascertained in accordance with the Succession Duty Act, 1853, subject to the following provisions:

(a) In the case of a successor who is entitled to the real property comprised in his succession for an estate in fee simple, or in fee according to the custom of any manor, or for lives renewable under any custom or under any lease for lives, or for any estate in tail, or under an entail under which he can acquire the property in fee simple without consent of any person, or is entitled to any such property for life, and competent to dispose as he shall think fit of a continuing interest therein, the value shall be the principal value of such property based upon the annual value estimated after making such allowances (if any) as ought to be made under the said Act. The duty payable in respect of such principal value shall not in any case exceed the amount which would be chargeable upon an annuity equal to such annual value according to the highest value in Table III. in the Schedule of the Succession Duty Act, 1853:

(b) In the case of an increase of benefit accruing to a successor, and chargeable to succession duty by reference to sections five, twenty, or twenty-five of the Succession Duty Act, 1853, where the value of the succession, apart from the increase of benefit, shall exceed ten thousand pounds, such increase of benefit shall be chargeable with duty under this section, whatever may be the value thereof; and where the value of the succession, apart from the increase of benefit, shall not exceed ten thousand pounds, the value of such increase of benefit, as well as of every preceding increase of benefit, shall be added to the value of the succession for the purpose of the said duty.

(6) The duty imposed by this section shall in the case of real property be a first charge thereon, or on the interest of the successor therein, according as the duty is or is not chargeable on the principal value of such property, and shall be paid in like manner as if the duty were a part of the succession duty payable under section twenty-two of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1888, and together with the payments in respect of that duty.

Duration of charge of estate duty.

7. The duties herein-before imposed by this part of this Act shall not be payable in respect of the value of the estate and effects of any person dying on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and ninety-six, or of the value of any personal or moveable property included in an Account by relation to the death of any person so dying, or in respect of the value of any succession upon the death of any person so dying, and statements of such values shall not be required.

Double duty or interest payable in case of default.

8.(1) If any person who ought to deliver a statement as required by this part of this Act shall neglect to do so, he shall be liable to pay to Her Majesty double the amount of duty chargeable, and the same shall be a debt due from him to the Crown, and be recoverable by any of the ways or means now in force for the recovery of probate, legacy, or succession duties.

(2) In any case in which any duty herein-before imposed by this part of this Act shall be in arrear, the person by whom the arrears of duty may be payable shall be liable to pay interest thereon at the rate of four pounds per centum per annum, and such interest shall be recoverable by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue in the same manner as the arrears of duty and as part thereof: Provided always, that the acceptance or recovery by the said Commissioners of arrears of duty, with interest thereon as aforesaid, shall be an absolute waiver of the penalties (if any) which may have been incurred.

The duties to be stamp duties.

9.(1) The duties herein-before imposed by this part of this Act shall be stamp duties, and shall be under the care and management of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, who by themselves and their officers shall have the same powers and authorities for the collection, recovery, and management thereof as are vested in them for the collection, recovery, and management of any stamp duties, and shall have all other powers and authorities requisite for carrying this part of this Act into execution.

(2) The statements required to be delivered under this part of this Act shall be in such form as may be prescribed by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, who shall provide forms accordingly, and the duty on the statement shall be denoted in such manner as the Commissioners may think proper.

Amendments of Law as to Succession Duties and Duties on Accounts.

Amendments of the law as to succession duty.

16 & 17 Vict. c. 51.

51 & 52 Vict. c. 8.

10.(1) The allowance under section thirty-eight of the Succession Duty Act, 1853, to a successor upon taking a succession upon the death of any person dying on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, shall only be made in respect of the value of property which the successor may have acquired by any title not conferring a succession on him, and which passes from the successor to some other person.

(2) Subject to the relief given by section eighteen of the Succession Duty Act, 1853, in respect of property not amounting in money or principal value to the sum of one hundred pounds, the duties charged under the said Act, and section twenty-one of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1888, shall be payable upon a succession upon the death of any person dying on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, although the value thereof shall be less than twenty pounds.

(3) The Commissioners of Inland Revenue, if dissatisfied with the account and estimate originally delivered in conformity with section forty-five of the Succession Duty Act, 1853, may, subject to appeal as therein provided, assess the duty on the footing of such account and upon such estimate as they may place thereon, or proceed according to the directions of that section.

Amendment of 44 & 45 Vict. c. 12, s. 38.

11.[1] —(1) Sub-section two of section thirty-eight of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1888, is hereby amended, as follows:—

The description of property marked (a) shall be read as if the word “twelve” were substituted for the word “three” therein, and the said description of property shall include property taken under any gift, whenever made, of which property bonâ fide possession and enjoyment shall not have been assumed by the donee immediately upon the gift and thenceforward retained, to the entire exclusion of the donor, or of any benefit to him by contract or otherwise:

The description of property marked (b) shall be construed as if the expression “to be transferred to or vested in himself and any other person” included also any purchase or investment effected by the person who was absolutely entitled to the property either by himself alone, or in concert, or by arrangement, with any other person:

The description of property marked (c) shall be construed as if the expression “voluntary settlement” included any trust whether expressed in writing or otherwise, in favour of a volunteer, and, if contained in a deed or other instrument effecting the settlement, whether such deed or other instrument was made for valuable consideration or not as between the settlor and any other person, and as if the expression “such property,” wherever the same occurs, included the proceeds of sale thereof:

The charge under the said section shall extend to money received under a policy of assurance effected by any person dying on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine, on his life, where the policy is wholly kept up by him for the benefit of a donee, whether nominee or assignee, or a part of such money in proportion to the premiums paid by him, where the policy is partially kept up by him for such benefit.

(2) A return of stamp duty shall not be made under subsection three of the said section thirty-eight by reason of, or in relation to, any account delivered on or after the first day of June one thousand eight hundred and eighty-nine.

Limitation of Claims to Succession Duty or Legacy Duty in certain Cases.

Purchasers and mortgagees exempted from liability to succession duty after a specified period.

16 & 17 Vict. c. 51.

51 & 52 Vict. c. 8.

16 & 17 Vict. c. 51.

12.(1) Notwithstanding the forty-second section of the Succession Duty Act, 1853, or any other provision contained in that Act, real property, or any estate or interest therein, shall not, as against a purchaser for valuable consideration, or a mortgagee, remain charged with or liable to payment of any sum for succession duty or duty herein-before imposed by this part of this Act, after the expiration of six years from the date of notice to the Commissioners of Inland Revenue of the fact that the successor, or any person in his right or on his behalf, has become entitled in possession to his succession or to the receipt of the income and profits thereof, or from the date of the first payment by such successor or person of any instalment or part of the duty, in case the successor shall not have availed himself of the option given to him by section twenty-two of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1888, or after two years from the time for the payment by such successor of the last instalment or part of the duty, if he has availed himself of such option; or, in the absence of any such notice or payment, after the expiration of twelve years from the happening of the event (whether before or after the passing of this Act) which gave rise to an immediate claim to such duty, or if such period of twelve years expires within six years from the date of the passing of this Act, then after the expiration of six years from the last-mentioned date.

(2) The duty (if any) unpaid at the expiration of such period of six years, or of twelve years or six years as the case may be, shall be payable and paid by the successor or the persons mentioned as accountable in section forty-four of the said Act, other than the purchaser or mortgagee, and shall become charged substitutively upon any other estate or interest comprised in the succession of the successor remaining vested in him, or in any person in his right or on his behalf, other than the purchaser or mortgagee, and in case of a mortgage upon the equity of redemption.

(3) This section is not to lessen or affect any liability of any successor or accountable person, other than the purchaser or mortgagee, to payment of duty, whether out of money received on any sale or mortgage, or otherwise; but a purchaser or mortgagee shall not, for the purpose of obtaining the exemption conferred by this section, be bound to see that the duty is discharged out of the money or other consideration paid or given as the consideration for the sale or mortgage.

Power to deposit copies of documents and liability to duty to cease after specified period.

13.(1) Any person may cause an attested copy (which shall be exempt from stamp duty) of any document which creates a liability for payment of any succession duty, or duty herein-before imposed by this part of this Act, other than a testamentary document admitted to probate, to be deposited with the Commissioners of Inland Revenue at their principal office in London, Edinburgh, or Dublin, as the case may require, and such copy shall be received at that office.

(2) The officer of the Commissioners receiving the copy shall, on request of the person making the deposit, and either by indorsement on the original document or otherwise, give a receipt in writing under his hand for the copy.

(3) After a receipt has been given by an officer for a copy of a document under this section, no person shall be liable for payment of any duty under such document after the expiration of six years from the date of notice to the Commissioners of the fact which gives rise to an immediate claim to such duty.

(4) The costs of depositing a copy of a document and obtaining a receipt under this section shall be deemed costs duly incurred by a trustee, executor, or administrator, or any other person in the execution of his duties as trustee, executor, or administrator, or otherwise, under the document.

Liability to duty under documents admitted to probate to cease after a specified period.

14. No person shall, under a testamentary document admitted to probate, or under letters of administration, or under a confirmation, be liable for payment of any legacy duty or succession duty, or duty herein-before imposed by this part of this Act, after the expiration of six years from the date of the settlement of the account in respect of which the duty is payable, where such account was in all respects a full and true account and contained all the facts material to be known by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue for the ascertainment of the rate and amount of duty; and no trustee, executor, or administrator shall, after the expiration of such six years, be liable to such duty if it is proved to the satisfaction of the Commissioners that the account rendered was correct to the best of his knowledge, information, and belief.

As to notices under this part of this Act.

15. Every notice referred to in this part of this Act shall be in writing and in such form as the Commissioners of Inland Revenue shall prescribe, and shall be delivered or sent in duplicate, and an acknowledgment of the receipt thereof, by or on behalf of the Commissioners, upon the duplicate shall be forthwith returned to the person by whom the notice was delivered or sent.

[Ss. 16, 17 rep. 54 & 55 Vict. c. 39, s. 123.

S. 18 rep. 52 & 53 Vict. c. 42, s. 15.

Ss. 19–22, being Part III. (Income Tax) rep. 8 Edw. 7. c. 49 (S.L.R.).]

[1 As to additional excise duties on beer, see 59 & 60 Vict. c. 28, s. 8.]

[2 The estate duty imposed by this section is not payable in respect of property chargeable with estate duty under the Finance Act, 1894, see 57 & 58 Vict. c. 30, s. 1, sched. 1.]

[1 This Act is rep. as to S., 52 & 53 Vict. c. 50 s. 19 (5), and as regards S. the reference is to be read as a reference to 52 & 53 Vict. c. 50, s. 21, see that section.]

[2 The estate duty imposed by this section is not payable in respect of property chargeable with estate duty under the Finance Act, 1894, see 57 & 58 Vict. c. 30, s. 1, sched. 1.]

[1 The duties imposed by 44 & 45 Vict. c. 12, s. 38, are not payable in respect of property chargeable with estate duty, see 57 & 58 Vict. c. 30, s. 1, sched. 1.]