Blogs/Vlogs

Government U-turn on probate fees is a welcome relief for farmers

25 April 2017

Following on from our blog on 2 March 2017 we are happy to report at this time that the proposed increase in probate application fees has been 'shelved'. I say shelved as it would appear that it has not been fully abandoned and it could yet see the light of day again if the current government wins the election in June.

The proposed increase was not only unpopular, but potentially unlawful, with STEP and the Law Society having gone to the extent of seeking a QC opinion on the suggestion that the rise represented a tax charge and not a fee and that its bringing forward by way of Statutory Instrument was potentially ‘ultra vires’.

The abandonment of the proposal is a welcome relief, but the Government’s attempts to rush it through, coupled with their unwillingness to comment on whether it will be reintroduced in the event that they win the upcoming election, leaves a worrying feeling that we’ve not heard the last of this just yet. We will of course keep you informed of any future developments.

If you have any questions about the content discussed in this blog, please don’t hesitate to contact me or your local UHY agriculture expert.

Let's talk! Send an enquiry to your local UHY expert.