This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or financial advice, nor a valuation in an individual case. Despite careful research, we assume no liability for accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. For specific questions, please consult a lawyer or tax advisor. Older content may be outdated due to changes in legislation or case law.
For properties located in Germany, the German Valuation Act (Bewertungsgesetz) remains authoritative regardless of the deceased's last place of residence, so that nothing changes in the fundamental valuation procedure.
If further properties abroad are part of the estate, they must be assessed according to the local valuation principles there and prepared accordingly for the German inheritance tax return.
International inheritance cases often require close coordination between a German tax advisor and local experts in the respective country to avoid double taxation.
Within the EU, the applicable law of succession is generally governed by the EU Succession Regulation based on the deceased's last habitual residence, which is to be distinguished from the tax valuation of the property described here.
Double taxation agreements specifically for inheritance tax exist only with a few countries, so that in international inheritance cases double taxation can occur more frequently and should be examined at an early stage.