The Private Rented Housing (Scotland) Act 2011which contains provisions relating to the registration of private landlords and regulation of Houses in Multiple Occupation was given Royal Assent on 20th April. The main provisions will come into force then the Scottish Ministers appoint a date by order.
HMRC has published new guidance on mourning costs that can be deducted against IHT
The Scottish Law Commission has published another in its series of discussion papers on trust law, the 8th since 2003. The commission is working on a draft Trusts (Scotland) Bill to replace the existing 1921 legislation and is consulting until 1 July 2011.
A probate executive has received a 30 month jail sentence for estate fraud. She embezzled £100,000 from four elderly clients of her employer in Hove, East Sussex.
The Upper Tax Tribunal has struck out late filing penalties imposed by HMRC upon a woman who became mentally incapable and homeless after being seriously injured by armed robbers. Although the robbers used her bank cards to steal all her savings, leaving her penniless for two years, an earlier tribunal decision nevertheless ordered her to pay the penalties.
From 6 April 2011 the DOTAS (disclosure of tax avoidance schemes) regime applies to inheritance tax planning, including lifetime transfers to trusts.
