Ask an expert: BPR on chargeable transfer of holding company’s shares

Question

My client is a holding company which carries on a mixture of activities; it carries on both trading and investment activities on its own account and also acts as a holding company of two trading subsidiaries. The company’s activities as a whole can be analysed by reference to turnover profits and management time as approximately 40% trading 20% investment and 40% acting as the holding company of a trading group. Will IHT business property relief be available on a chargeable transfer of the holding company’s shares? If not what can be done to improve the position?

Answer

Business property relief (BPR) reduces the taxable value of a chargeable transfer...