IHTM31601 - Assessing: repayments: introduction

Where we find out that a repayment is due, after we have been told about amendments, or we have applied money on deposit (IHTM31751), you must repay the overpaid amount, unless:

• the request for a repayment is made more than four years after the date of payment (or last payment) of the tax or interest. (This limitation does not apply where the charge to IHT was based on an error of fact. For this purpose, an alleged error in valuation is not an error of fact.)
• the repayment may not be allowed under the mistake of law provisions in IHTA84/S255 (IHTM30451).

If you think you should deny a repayment because it falls into one of these categories, consult your manager first.

You should normally only issue a repayment when you have established the value of the estate and do not expect any further amendments. But, you can sometimes make a provisional repayment (IHTM31720) before all matters relating to the estate are settled.