Friday, December 05, 2025 | 11:29 PM ISTहिंदी में पढें
Business Standard
Notification Icon
userprofile IconSearch

Inheritance tax: An idea doomed to failure

If levied, within 20 years we will see a repeat of V P Singh's 1985 Budget speech proposing abolition because of its meagre yield and high cost of collection

Inheritance tax
premium

Photo: Shutterstock

Harsh Roongta

Listen to This Article

The discussion on inheritance tax in the media reminded me of the story titled The Great Sermon Handicap by my favourite author P G Wodehouse. In the story, the owner of a priceless family heirloom — a silver cow creamer — steals it himself intending to sell it to a rich American collector. It’s a complicated plot with many misunderstandings typical of Wodehouse’s work. Bertie Wooster and his butler Jeeves get involved. Ultimately, Jeeves rescues Bertie with his superior intellect and problem-solving skills. The story is set against the backdrop of the ruinous estate duties prevailing in Britain then. There
Disclaimer: These are personal views of the writer. They do not necessarily reflect the opinion of www.business-standard.com or the Business Standard newspaper