German Gift Tax on Distributions from a U.S. Trust to a German resident Subsequent to an Election under Art. 12 para 3 of the Germany-U.S. Estate and Gift Tax Treaty
On March 6, 2019 the Ministry of Finance of Brandenburg published a binding decision on the taxation of distributions from a U.S. trust subsequent to...

German Federal Fiscal Court Ruling on Taxation of Distributions from a Foreign Family Foundation and a Foreign Trust
In its decision dated July 3, 2019, the German Federal Fiscal Court (Bundesfinanzhof) held that distributions from a foreign family foundation...

German Inheritance Tax: Personal Tax-free Exemptions 2019
Personal Tax-free Exemption for 2019
The personal tax-free exemption (Freibetrag) depends on the familial relationship between deceased and...

German Inheritance Tax Rates 2019
The German inheritance tax rates depend on a) the tax class and b) the value of the taxable acquisition of the beneficiary.
Determination of the...

Taxation of Distributions from an 401(k) to an individual Resident in Germany
In its decision dated August 9, 2018, the Fiscal Court of Cologne (Finanzgericht Köln) held that for German residents taxation should be limited to...

FG Münster: Deed of Variation not recognized in Germany for Inheritance and Gift Tax Purposes
The Tax Court of North Rhine-Westphalia (Finanzgericht Münster) has held on 12 April 2018 , that German inheritance tax (Erbschaftsteuer) cannot be...

Estate Tax: Effect of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act on German Domiciliaries
On December 22, 2017, Public Law 115‑97 ("Tax Cuts and Jobs Act") was enacted. Sec. 11061 of the Act more than doubles the estate and gift tax...

German Inheritance Tax - Update 2017
The General Tax-free Exemption and Tax Rates of the German Inheritance Tax 2017
The personal tax-free exemption (§ 16 ErbStG) and the Tax Rates (§ 19...

Glossary
Related publications
- U.S.-Trusts in German-American Estate Planning
- Disclaiming an inheritance under German law
- German Inheritance Tax - FAQ
- Community of Co-Heirs in Germany
- Administration of a U.S. Domiciled Decedent’s German Assets by a U.S. Personal Representative
- German Certificate of Inheritance
- Forced Heirship under German Law
- Taxation of U.S.-Trusts under the German Inheritance and Gift Tax Act
- Collection of a German Bank account of a Deceased domiciled abroad
- Administration of a nonresident Decedent’s German Assets