Lees v Commissioner of Inland Revenue - [1989] 1 NZLR 704

Revenue — Estate and gift duty — Dutiable estate — Some 19 months before hs death deceased transferred to himself a freehold estate for life in land and an estate in remainder to his family trust — Commissioner included value of fee simple of land in deceased's dutiable estate — Executors objected to assessment — High Court disallowed objection and executors appealed — Whether retention of life interest by deceased when disposing of remainder was a reservation of life interest — Whether assessment was correct — Estate and Gift Duties Act 1968, s 12.