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Introduction

Questions concerning gifts with reservation (GWR) provisions are more likely to arise in connection with gifts of land than any other type of gift. A variety of factors contribute to this:

1. •

   typically, land and buildings carry a high value and often comprise the major asset in an estate. Gifts of land, if effective for IHT, will result in a significant tax saving

2. •

   although the land may be the most valuable asset in the estate, the property in question may be the donor’s home, or a second property which he is reluctant to give up entirely

3. •

   often, there is an intention to keep land and buildings in the family when the owner dies, whereas other assets will be realised in cash. This makes it difficult to make a lifetime gift of the portion that is not needed

4. •

   land and buildings which do not produce income, present an obvious candidate for disposal, enabling the donor to retain liquid investments

5. •

   property, such as a house, cannot easily be divided