Allowance is for direct family
When a childless person wants to leave money to a nephew or niece am I right in thinking that, although there is no special allowance on death, there is a special tax-free allowance of 鈧�31,865 for a lifetime gift 鈥� at least within France? However, I don鈥檛 know if any British gift tax would then apply if the donor lived in France and the nephew lived in Britain? M.R.
You are correct that there is a tax reduction on death called an abattement fiscal for gifts between uncle/aunts and nieces/nephews, but it is of 鈧�7,967. Those who are of further family degrees than the immediate niece/nephew to the uncle/aunt have a tax reduction of 鈧�1,595.
As for the tax-free allowance of 鈧�31,865 for lifetime gifts or cash only, this is only for children, grand-children or great grandchildren, but the donor has to be under 80 to make use of this allowance.
It is not allowed for anyone else, such as uncle/aunts and nieces/nephews.
If the donor is in France, this gift has to be notarised (registered through a notaire), but since in the UK it is the estate that pays any tax, not the beneficiary, the UK beneficiary should not be liable for any tax.
Reader's query answered by Hugh MacDonald
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