Commentary on Sections Structure of Chapters Overview Section 674: Successive interests: holders of limited interests
2574.This section explains the position of a limited interest holder where successive interests in the residue of an estate are held by different people and the earlier, or if there are more than two, the earliest of the interests is a limited interest. It is based on sections 695 and 698 of ICTA.
2575.The section only applies where the later interests arise or are created on the cessation of the previous interest otherwise than by death.
2576.Subsections (3) to (5) cover three sets of circumstances described as “cases” where the estate income in respect of successive limited interests is treated as arising. The cases are the equivalent for successive limited interests of the three cases for single limited interests in section 654. But the section recognises that there may be more than one limited interest in the chain of succession, so references are made to “one of the interests” and subsection (5) refers to “the last of the successive interests”.
2577.There is also an additional sub-paragraph in each case providing that a limited holder (as defined) is entitled to receive the payment. This reflects the fact that the person who receives the payment in these circumstances is not always the person in respect of whose interest the payment is made. For example, on disclaiming a life interest, a beneficiary may also disclaim any entitlement to income accrued in respect of that interest but not yet paid.
2578.The section does not make it explicit that a new chain of succession begins with the first limited interest (and a previous absolute interest is ignored) for the purposes of this provision. Nor does the section make it explicit that two limited interests which are preceded by a limited interest which ceased on the death of the beneficiary are covered by the section. These conclusions are implicit in the section.