The Gazette 1961 - 64

the Estate Duty1 indicate that in future it will be necessary to put in the age as it is required for internal statistical purposes. The information so obtained is not made available by way of a check on those in receipt of old age pensions. The Revenue Commissioners state that if the foregoing procedure is adhered to in the completing of schedules of assets for lodgment for Estate Duty purposes much delay will be avoided by reason of the fact that a great many of the affidavits will be dealt with immediately and the duty assessed. It is pointed out that of the total of schedules of assets presented for assessment in the first instance about one third usually have to be returned with one query or another. Residuary Accounts In completing Residuary Accounts (a) Securities should be Used in the same order as in the inland revenue affidavit. (b} Discrepancies in the amounts of holdings, appearing in the residuary accounts as compared with those returned for estate duty should be fully explained. Where these are due to bonus or rights issues the dates of issue should be stated. The Council have not lost sight of the question of delays in assessments due to staff shortages or other internal difficulties in the Revenue Commissioners Office and are continuing consultations with the office on this matter. Office REGISTRY OF DEEDS (FEES) ORDER, 1962. The above Order has been made by the Minister for Justice and it comes into operation on the ist of January, 1963. The effect of the Order is to increase the fees at present authorised to be charged in the Registry of Deeds. It replaces the Registry of Deeds (Fees) Order, 1956. BOOK REVIEW The Administration of Justice in Ireland. By V. T. H. DELANY. Dublin Institute of Public Administra tion, 1962. 8vo. Pp. 91. 14/6. Dr. Delany has written primarily for administrators an excellent and concise guide to the administration of justice in Ireland ; perhaps the best method of indicating the scope of the work is to summarise the contents. Dr. Delany first analyses the nature and sources of Irish law in relation to legislation, judge-made law and equity; he then gives an interesting summary to the background of the Irish

5. Assets frequently omitted (a) Where securities are quoted ex dividend the whole of the current dividend should be included. (Where such dividends are paid without deduction of tax, income tax at the standard rate may be deducted and the net dividend only returned.) (£) When an estate includes British securities a refund of British tax deducted at source is due to the estate. This refund (or an estimate) should be included. 6. Valuation of unquoted shares in private Companies. This matter frequently gives rise to queries and it was the subject of an agreement as to pro cedure between the Society and the Estate Duty Office in 1959. Briefly, the procedure is that the solicitor on receipt of instructions should im mediately lodge particulars of the shares in the Estate Duty Office, and without waiting for the schedule of assets to be completed. A full note on the procedure will be found in the Society's GAZETTE for February, 1959. 7. Shares to which section 21 of the Finance Act, 1956 applies. Under this section it must be shown to the satisfaction of the Revenue Commissioners that the deceased had been beneficially entitled to the securities in question from the date of the original issue thereof or for three years preceding death and if the necessary evidence in support of this is not lodged with the affidavit and schedule of assets same will have to be returned with a query. 8. Deceased described as " retired farmer " or " retired merchant ". Where a deceased person is so described in the estate duty affidavit the Estate Duty Office will require to have evidence as to how, when, to whom and for what consideration the lands or business were disposed of prior to death as the disposition, if made within the three years preceding death, affects the question of estate duty. This question should be dealt with when the affidavit is lodged and a copy of the relevant instru ment should be lodged whenever the disposition was otherwise than by way of bona fide sale. 9. Age of the deceased. The affidavit contains a space for the age of the deceased and this should always be filled in. In the past this was not a strict requirement but