The European Commission is seeking stakeholders’ views on obstacles related to cross-border inheritance tax and possible solutions to these problems. Input received will feed into the current Commission’s work to obtain more evidence of the extent of any cross-border inheritance tax problems within the EU and to find solutions to any problems identified.
How to contribute?
The public consultation will run until 22 September 2010 and is based on a consultation document which is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/taxation_customs/resources/documents/common/consultations/tax/2010/06/inheritance_2010_06_consultation_paper_en.pdf
The EFC Legal Committee will also be looking at the public consultation.
Interested parties are invited to address the following questions:
- Have you any information on cross-border inheritance tax problems in the EU that you would like to provide?
- Which or which combination of the above outlined approaches do you consider as most appropriate to tackle any cross-border inheritance problems that exist? Why do you prefer that option?
- Would you prefer a completely different solution and if so what solution do you suggest?
- What, if anything, else do you think could be done at European level to overcome any difficulties that exist in the area of inheritance taxes?
- Do you have knowledge of cross-border inheritance tax problems faced by SMEs and, if so, do you think that the above-mentioned or different solutions are needed for any such problems?
- Do you have any other comment or thoughts to share as regards cross-border inheritance tax issues?
EFC members interested in obtaining further information or in providing their input are invited to contact the EFC secretariat at eu@efc.be or to visit the following webpage http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/news/consulting_public/news_consulting_public_en.htm
Background
This issue has been put on the agenda as it appears that cross-border inheritance tax issues are becoming one of growing concern to EU citizens. It is possible that EU Member States' inheritance tax rules as applied in cross-border situations are hindering EU citizens from benefiting fully from their right to move and operate freely across borders within the Internal Market. These rules may also be creating difficulties for the transfer of small businesses on the death of owners.
An external study is also underway to provide more information about the precise extent of cross-border inheritance tax problems. The final study will be published on the website of the Directorate General for Taxation and the Customs Union in the European Commission in July, so that all contributing parties to the present consultation will be able to access the findings of the study.