Inheritance and gift tax (Erbschaft- und Schenkungsteuer)
Basic principles of inheritance and gift tax
Inheritance and gift tax (Erbschaft- und Schenkungsteuer) is
levied on transfers of property by reason of death (inheritance
tax), gifts during lifetime and transfers for certain specifed
purposes (gift tax), as well as on the net worth of certain family
foundations or trusts (at intervals of 30 years).
The transfer of domestic property valued according to the
provisions of the German Valuation Act (Bewertungsgesetz) is
subject to inheritance and gift tax, regardless of whether the
transferor and/or the transferee are residents of Germany. The
transfer of foreign property is subject to inheritance and gift tax
only if the decedent or donor is a resident of Germany at the
time of death or at the time when the gift is made, respectively,
or if the benefciary or donee is a resident at the time when the
tax liability arises, or if either the decedent/donor or the benef-
ciary/donee is a German citizen and emigrated within a fve-year
period preceding the taxable event.
EU Forecast
euf:ba.18g:144/nws-01