What are the thresholds and CAT tax rate?
Inheritances can be received free from Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) up to a certain amount. The tax-free amount varies depending on your relationship to the person giving the inheritance (Group Threshold). There are three different groups. Each group has a threshold that applies to the total inheritance you’ve received since 5th December 1991, in that group.
At present, the current rate of Capital Acquisition Tax is 33%*.
Capital Acquisitions Tax thresholds after 12th October 2016.
A. Son or daughter - €310,000
B. A parent**, brother, sister, niece, nephew or grandchild of the person giving the gift - €32,500
C. All other relationships, other than those mentioned in A or B - €16,250
*CAT only applies to the amount of the inheritance which exceeds the gift in the relevant group threshold.
CAT is charged at 33% on inheritances made on or after 5th December 2012.
**In certain circumstances, a parent taking an inheritance from a child can qualify for Group A threshold.
Example of how Inheritance Tax works
Net/Taxable Value of Inheritance: €800,000
2 Beneficiaries: Son and Daughter.
Breakdown of inheritance due.
- Son or Daughter
- Gross inheritance to each beneficiary - €400,000
- Less tax-free amount threshold - €310,000
- Relationship: child i.e. Group A.
- Gross taxable inheritance per child - €90,000
- Tax payable at 33% per child - €29,700
- Overall inheritance tax due - €59,400
This is correct as of September 2018.
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