Legacy Duty - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition legacy-duty

Definition :

Legacy duty, a tax paid to Government on legacies and shares of residue, rising from 1 to 10 per cent. in proportion of the distance of relationship between the testator or intestate and legatee. The personal representative is liable to pay the duty. He must show a receipt signed by the legate giving certain particulars, including the amount or value of the legacy and the duty payable thereon. Duty is then paid and the receipt is stamped. If the duty is not paid by the personal representative the legatee is chargeable. The principal Acts relating to the legacy duty are the (English) Legacy Duty Act, 1796 (36 Geo. 3, c. 52); the (English) Stamp Act, 1815 (55 Geo. 3, c. 184); the (English) Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1881 (44 & 45 Vict. c. 12), ss. 41-43; and the (English) Finance (1909-10) Act, 1910, pt. Iii. See Chitty's Statutes, tit. 'Death Duties.' Consult Hanson or Norman on Death Duties.