Gay Mitchell
Ceist:196 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Finance if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 10 is liable for probate tax in view of budget 2000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10412/00]
Written Answers. - Tax Reliefs.
I am informed by the Revenue Commissioners that as no probate tax return appears to have been lodged it is not possible to say with certainty whether or not liability to probate tax will arise in this case.
A dwelling house passing to a dependent child or dependent relative is exempt from probate tax provided the dependent child or relative had been residing in the dwelling house at the death of the deceased and had an income not exceeding the specified amount, for the tax year 1999-2000 the specified amount was £4,848.
To qualify as a dependent child, the child must have been under the age of 18 years, or if over 18 years, in full time education.
To qualify as a dependent relative, the person concerned must have been a relative of the deceased or of the wife or husband of the deceased, who was incapacitated by old age or infirmity from maintaining himself or herself or the widowed father or mother, whether or not he or she was so incapacitated, of the deceased or of the wife or husband of the deceased.
In Budget 2000, I increased the probate tax exemption threshold from £11,250 to £40,000. This increased threshold applies to estates where the date of death was on or after 1 December 1999.