Significantly fewer assets bequeathed and given away in 2022

In 2022, the value of business assets given as gifts more than halved, while gifts of real estate in particular increased.

In 2022, the tax authorities assessed asset transfers through inheritances and gifts amounting to 101.4 billion euros. According to a survey by the Federal Statistical Office, inherited and gifted assets recognized for tax purposes fell by 14.0 % compared to the previous year, in which it had reached its highest level since 2009. Gifted business assets were the main reason for the decline. This halved in 2022 compared to the previous year, falling to 12.4 billion euros after more than doubling in 2021. As a result, real estate assets given away ranked first among gifts in 2022 at 14.9 billion euros (+5.2 % compared to the previous year), followed by other assets given away at 13.6 billion euros (+6.4 % compared to the previous year).