An Estimate of the Potential of Inheritance Tax to Relieve the Labor Factor

However, expectations that higher taxation of wealth, not least in the form of inheritances and gifts, would lead to a decline in wealth inequality are often exaggerated. A higher inheritance tax would not directly reduce inequality.

From an economic point of view, a valid argument in favor of a higher taxation of inheritances and gifts would be the possibility of using additional tax revenues to reduce the burden on labor. A shift of tax revenues from income tax to inheritance tax could be used to increase incentives to work by lowering marginal tax rates for the working population.

As a reform model for the inheritance tax, many economists therefore recommend a broad tax base with relatively low tax rates, i.e. a departure from the current model with partly high tax rates but extensive allowances and exemption rules.

However, the potential additional tax revenues of such a flat-tax model are rather low, as the analysis of inheritance and gift tax statistics shows. The introduction of a flat-tax model with a broad tax base in inheritance tax would generate only little additional tax revenue and would consequently have little potential to generate relevant employment effects. This is particularly true if the personal allowances that ensure, for example, the tax-free transfer of owner-occupied real estate are to continue to apply.

In addition, a reform of inheritance tax must not disregard the effective burden on business assets in order to avoid negative effects on value creation and jobs. Flat-rate exemptions for business assets subject to a few conditions and long-term interest-free deferrals could eliminate bureaucratic burdens and uncertainties about the tax burden.