When an inheritance is received, the heirs must pay the Inheritance tax. Although in many cases this patrimony is exempt or almost to tax, due to the fiscal bonuses offered by the different autonomous communities, it is a tribute that has generated countless debates among experts.
About it, the economist has opined Gonzalo Bernardoswhich has defended in its social networks the need to maintain this tax to guarantee the financing of public services. As he states, when the big inheritances do not pay tribute, the main injured are families with less resources.
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Bernardos rejects the idea that the inheritance tax is a “death tax.” In his words: “The dead or receives anything. They do his descendants, if in Spain they inherit a lot of heritage. Some descendants who receive a great gift, because they have not generated such heritage.”
The expert clarifies that there is no double imposition with the Inheritance Tax
Faced with criticism about the possible double imposition, the economist clarifies that there is no such overlap, since the taxable event is different. “In the IRPF the obtaining of income and in the succession of the transmission of wealth is taxed,” he explains
It emphasizes that the solution is the distribution of fiscal effort “because the succession tax is mainly paid by the rich and the VAT primarily the poor. The fiscal effort in relation to their income is much greater in the seconds than in the former regarding their wealth.”
However, it clarifies that this tax should be reviewed so as not to harm those who inherit modest assets. “It seems very good that those who have a high assets are paid. It seems very bad that those who inherit a floor and a little money from a deposit or investment fund.”
In his reflection, Bernardos points to an ideological component in the debate on this tax. “Even if the right, over and over again, says it, the heirs of the workers’ families do not pay succession tax in Spain. The right has won the battle of the story because the left has failed to generate an alternative one,” he adds
Eliminating the succession tax would harm families with less income
Bernardos launches a warning on what would be the effect of eliminating the inheritance tax on inheritances. “If those who receive in inheritance a great assets do not pay taxes, there is less money for health, education and social benefits. Who are the injured? Families with less income.”