Which type of appointment causes property to be included in the gross estate?

A General Power of Appointment allows the holder to exercise control over the asset, effectively treating it as though it is part of their estate for tax purposes. This is because the holder can designate who will receive the property upon their death, and they can also use the power to benefit themselves. Therefore, because the holder can access the property and potentially receive it, the value of that property is included in the gross estate.

In contrast, a Special Power of Appointment limits the holder's authority to specific individuals or groups and does not allow them to benefit personally from the property. A Limited Power of Appointment restricts the choices available to the holder further, typically giving them only the ability to select from a designated class of beneficiaries without personal benefit. A Discretionary Power of Appointment refers to the discretion given to a trustee or similar party, rather than the property being directly controlled or utilized by the holder.

Due to the unrestricted nature of a General Power of Appointment, it is the type that ultimately results in the included property value in the gross estate.