Normal expenditure out of income exemption (again!!)

Client with 7 grandkids.

To the GKs they gift £1K when age 18 attained, £5K at 21 and £50K after they reach 25 (and buy a house).

Assuming the gifts at age 18 and 21 are met from income (and £3K annual exemption used elsewhere); would these be classed normal and habitual and thus attract immediate exemption under the normal expenditure out of income rules.

I am thinking yes - the only nagging point is that there is an obvious end point to this series of gifts..... not sure that has an impact on exemption qualification though....?

Ta

Comments

  • Yes, they do.
    There is no requirement for expenditure to be ongoing; it needs to be a settled pattern. That pattern can have an end point.
    The gifts you suggest are of a settled pattern at outset. Bennett v IRC [1995] In summing up Lightman J said "What is necessary and sufficient is that the evidence should manifest the substantial conformity of each payment with an established pattern of expenditure by the individual concerned - a pattern established by proof of the existence of a prior commitment or resolution or by reference only to a sequence of payments."

    This case is also referred to in the IHT Manual in Section 14244.

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