Irish Inheritance Tax Thresholds

The rates of tax are as follows:

The Threshold Amount – 0%
Excess – 25%

As of 2020, the Threshold Amounts are:

Group A – €335,000
Group B – €32,500
Group C – €16,250

Generally speaking, the applicable group threshold is ascertained by reference to the relationship of the Beneficiary to the deceased person. Group A relates to sons and daughters. Group B typically relates to parents, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Group C relationships other than Group A or B.

2010 and 2011 Updates to Inheritance Tax in Ireland

The Finance Acts of 2010 and 2011 have seen substantial changes to the manner in which Inheritance Tax is administered in Ireland. These changes impact in two ways. Firstly, the date for payment of tax has changed to a “Pay and File” system as described below. Of more importance to the Non-Resident Beneficiary are the
obligations placed on Personal Representatives and their legal advisors in respect of such Non-Resident’s unpaid tax. In order to discharge those obligations, such Personal Representatives and their legal advisors are conferred with significant powers over the assets comprised in the Non-Resident Beneficiary’s inheritance.

Pay and File

In the normal course, the obligation to pay and file the Inheritance Tax Return is triggered by a date known as the “Valuation Date”. The Valuation Date for inheritances in the normal course means the date of ascertainment of the residue or other benefit and of its retainer for the benefit of the Beneficiary. This definition is complex and as a general rule of thumb, the Valuation Date tends to be the date of the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration.
Section 70 of the Finance Act 2011 amended the filing dates under the Capital Acquisition Tax (“CAT”) Consolidation Act 2003. The filing dates relevant as of
January 2011 are as follows:

The filing and payment date in respect of benefits taken in the period from the 1st January to 31st August is now the 30th September. The taking of a benefit is by reference to the valuation date of the gift or inheritance.

The filing and payment date in respect of benefits taken in the period from the 1st September and the 31st December is the 30th September in the following year.

There are various surcharges, interest and fines payable in the event of failure to pay and file on time. Although it is outside the scope of this article, it should be noted that there may be certain reliefs and exemptions available to taxpayers which may have the effect of reducing your liability, e.g. business relief or agricultural relief.

Non-Resident Personal Representatives / Executors and Non-Resident
Beneficiaries

In the event that some or all of the Beneficiaries are non-resident and the Personal Representative or Executors are also non-resident in Ireland, then under Section 48(10) of the Capital Acquisitions Act (as amended by the Finance Act 2010) requires such Personal Representative or Executor to appoint a solicitor who is lawfully practising in Ireland to act in connection with the administration of the
deceased person’s Estate. The Probate Office will not issue a Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration without such a solicitor having been so appointed. From the solicitor’s viewpoint, this gives rise to substantial additional risk as such solicitor is then deemed to be an assessable person for the purposes of the tax should the nonresident Beneficiary fail to make a return and pay the tax. Once again, the solicitor’s exposure to assessment is limited to the amount of assets under his or her control to which the Beneficiary is entitled and, furthermore, a solicitor has the power under the Act to sell those assets in order to discharge the taxes.

In the event of such a sale, not only will the underlying tax be paid, but obviously significant surcharges and interest will have accumulated due to the failure of the person primarily responsible in filing and paying their taxes.