Estate Planning : Widow’s Superannuation Rights

Section 16 of the Estate and Gift Duties Act 1968 catches death benefits left by a deceased who was a member of any superannuation scheme. The case of Hounsell v CIR (SC Wellington, 17 April 1975, M274/73) illustrates that considerable duty can be payable on such a scheme. Some estate planning techniques are suggested for superannuation scheme benefits and the disposition of holiday homes. As at 2009, the Estate and Gift Duties Act 1968 is still on the statute book, but the rates of the estate tax are now zero, in effect abolishing the tax. The article remains of historic and comparative interest