Estate Planning

Inheritance tax in the Netherlands is levied on a person deceasing while being resident in the Netherlands. Inheritance tax is levied on all assets, irrespective of where the assets are located. For non-residents, inheritance tax may be due on Dutch sourced wealth, such as property in the Netherlands.

In many cases, expats and Dutch nationals with a non-Dutch partner have to deal with inheritance taxes and marital law in two or more countries. Both from a civil law and tax law perspective, this can lead to complications.

The inheritance tax treaties that the Netherlands has concluded provide for an exemption of non-Netherlands based assets. For residents, inheritance is calculated on the basis of world wide assets. Inheritance tax due in other countries may be offset against Dutch taxes due on the full estate.

By looking ahead you can save on your inheritance duties. Honing the content of your will and the conditions of your marriage or partnership will give you the means to achieve this. We can also create a donation programme where you lessen the value of your estate and whereby your heirs have less inheritance tax to pay in the future.

The correct planning of your income also gives you the possibility to save on inheritance tax.

As of 2010, the inheritance tax law has changed significantly. Although some rates have been lowered, the new inheritance tax laws attempts to also levy inheritance tax on estate brought in a trust. This needs specific attention for expats coming from Anglo saxon jurisdictions.