Germany inheritance and gift tax revenues reach record 21.4 billion euros

inheritance tax gift tax wealth transfer tax revenue Germany

Germany's inheritance and gift tax revenues reached a record high of 21.4 billion euros in 2025, marking a 60.8 percent increase from the previous year. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this surge was primarily driven by a significant rise in the taxation of large wealth transfers. Specifically, taxes on transfers of at least 20 million euros more than doubled, increasing by 146.8 percent.

Inheritance tax alone rose by 57.1 percent to 13.3 billion euros, while gift tax saw a 67.3 percent increase to 8.1 billion euros. Total assets transferred through inheritance and gifts amounted to 141.1 billion euros, a 23.1 percent increase year-over-year. Notable growth was seen in the transfer of corporate shares, which rose by 128.9 percent to 16.8 billion euros.

The record revenues have reignited political debate regarding wealth inequality. Members of the SPD, including Wiebke Esdar and Achim Post, have called for a billionaire tax on assets exceeding 100 million euros to fund public infrastructure and education. Conversely, critics point to existing tax relief mechanisms, such as the 2016 hardship clause for business assets, which allowed 34 large estates to receive tax waivers totaling 3.7 billion euros in 2025.

Entities

Achim Post · Baden-Württemberg · DGB · Germany · SAP · SOS-Kinderdörfer weltweit e. V. · SPD · Statistisches Bundesamt · Stefan Körzell · Volkswagen · Wiebke Esdar

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 5 SOURCES] Taxation for large wealth transfers of at least 20 million euros more than doubled. newsflash24.de · radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · apollo-news.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The tax waivers were made possible by the 2016 hardship clause for business assets. www.redglobe.de · www.verbandsbuero.de
[● 6 SOURCES] Total assets transferred through inheritance and gifts in 2025 amounted to 141.1 billion euros. newsflash24.de · radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.it-boltwise.de · apollo-news.net · +1 more
[● 9 SOURCES] Total tax revenue increased by 60.8 percent compared to the previous year. radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.it-boltwise.de · apollo-news.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · +4 more
[● 9 SOURCES] German inheritance and gift tax revenues reached a record high of 21.4 billion euros in 2025. newsflash24.de · radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.it-boltwise.de · apollo-news.net · +4 more
[● 8 SOURCES] Inheritance tax revenue rose by 57.1 percent to 13.3 billion euros. newsflash24.de · radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · apollo-news.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · +3 more
[● 4 SOURCES] 34 large heirs received tax waivers totaling 3.7 billion euros in 2025. www.redglobe.de · www.verbandsbuero.de · gewinnermagazin.de
[● 8 SOURCES] Gift tax revenue rose by 67.3 percent to 8.1 billion euros. newsflash24.de · radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · apollo-news.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · +3 more
[● 4 SOURCES] In 2025, 34 large estates received tax waivers totaling 3.7 billion euros. www.redglobe.de · www.verbandsbuero.de · gewinnermagazin.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The tax relief for large estates was enabled by the 2016 hardship clause for business assets. www.redglobe.de · www.verbandsbuero.de
[● 8 SOURCES] Gift tax revenue increased by 67.3 percent to 8.1 billion euros in 2025. newsflash24.de · radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · apollo-news.net · www.berliner-sonntagsblatt.de · +3 more
[● 7 SOURCES] German inheritance and gift tax revenues reached a record 21.4 billion euros in 2025. gewinnermagazin.de · newsflash24.de · radioosnabrueck.de · www.fehmarn24.de · www.it-boltwise.de · +2 more