Inheritance Tax: Summary

What assets are taxed?

• Any assets in Greece owned by residents or non-residents
• Movable assets abroad owned by a Greek citizen
• Movable assets abroad owned by a foreign national resident in Greece

Who files the return?

• The heir or their legal representative

Filing deadline:

• 6 months for deaths in Greece

• 1 year for deaths abroad or if heirs resided abroad

• The deadline starts from:

  • Death of the decedent
  • Publication of a will
  • Final decision of removal
  • Death of the person liable to file the return
  • Appointment of guardians/executors/syndics/appointment of heirs

• The deadline can be extended by up to 3 months by decision of the Tax Office

Supporting documents:

• Death certificate
• Copy of the will
• Certificate of inheritance or family status certificate
• Certificate of non-publication of a will
• Legalization document (power of attorney)
• Documents for deferral of tax liability
• Evidence of inheritance debts

Competent Tax Office:

• Tax Office of the decedent’s residence
• Tax Office of Non-Residents (if the decedent was a non-resident)
• Tax Office of the place of death (if the decedent was a non-resident but died in Greece)

Exemption for primary residence:

• Applies to spouses/children of the decedent or spouses/minor children of them

• Condition: They do not own another residence/plot of land that covers their housing needs

• Exempt value:

  • Residence: up to €200,000 + increases for children
  • Plot of land: up to €50,000 + increases for children

Payment installments:

• 12 equal bimonthly installments (≥ €500)
• 24 equal monthly installments (if the heir is a minor)
• 30 days after the act of corrective determination
• 2 equal monthly installments after a final court decision

Tax year:

• As a rule, the year of death
• Can be deferred upon application by the heirs and approval by the Tax Office

Prescription:

• 10 years after filing the return
• 15 years after failure to file the return
• 5 years after an administrative/corrective determination act

Tax-free limits and rates:

See table with categories of heirs, tax-free limits and rates.

Exemption for spouse/minor child:

• Inheritance value up to €400,000 per heir