The Erbschafts-Navigator wizard uses German-law decision trees. The interface is localized; underlying recommendations describe German law.
Inheritance & succession in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Erbschaftsteuer (inheritance tax), Schenkungsteuer (gift tax) and succession planning in Nordrhein-Westfalen: competent authorities, Grunderwerbsteuer (real-estate transfer tax) rate, Notar (notary) system and state-specific particularities at a glance.
Grunderwerbsteuer
6,5 %
since 01.01.2015
Notar system
Mischsystem
per BNotO
ErbSt Finanzaemter
9
specialised for inheritance tax
Inheritance tax law
Federal law
ErbStG, uniform across all states
Competent authorities in Nordrhein-Westfalen
For an inheritance event or a Schenkung in Nordrhein-Westfalen, the following offices are your contacts. The reporting obligation under § 30 ErbStG runs for 3 months from acquiring knowledge of the event.
Erbschaftsteuer-Finanzamt (tax office)
9 specialised Finanzaemter (German tax offices: Düsseldorf-Süd, Köln-West, Münster-Innenstadt and others)[DE]
Competent for assessment and collection of inheritance and gift tax under § 35 ErbStG, in conjunction with the state-level competence ordinance.
Nachlassgericht (probate court)
Amtsgericht (German local court acting as Nachlassgericht / probate court) at the deceased's last domicile[DE]
Competent for opening wills, issuing certificates of inheritance and disclaimers under § 343 FamFG at the deceased's last habitual residence.
Notarkammer (chamber of notaries)
Notarkammer Düsseldorf, Hamm and Köln (3 Bars of German Notaries)[DE]
Supervisory body and directory of all notaries for wills, Erbvertraege (inheritance contracts), gift contracts and real estate transfers.
Grunderwerbsteuer in Nordrhein-Westfalen: 6,5 %
The Grunderwerbsteuer in Nordrhein-Westfalen stands at 6,5 % of the purchase price or consideration (since 01.01.2015). The rate is set by the state and may deviate from rates of other Bundeslaender (range: 3.5 % in Bavaria up to 6.5 % in Brandenburg, NRW, Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein).
Relevant for succession planning: Acquisitions due to death (inheritance) and Schenkungen inter vivos are exempt from Grunderwerbsteuer under § 3 No. 2 GrEStG. Anyone transferring real estate as part of vorweggenommene Erbfolge (anticipated succession) avoids Grunderwerbsteuer. In the case of a sale below value (mixed gift), Grunderwerbsteuer applies only to the onerous portion.
Legal basis: GrEStG in conjunction with state law of Nordrhein-Westfalen. The rate may change through state legislation.
Mischsystem in Nordrhein-Westfalen
In Nordrhein-Westfalen a Mischsystem (mixed system) exists: in some regions the Nurnotariat (notary as exclusive profession) applies, in others the Anwaltsnotariat (notary and attorney in one person). Which system applies depends on the OLG district.
For succession planning this makes no substantive difference regarding notarisation duties. Fees in both cases follow the GNotKG (Court and Notary Costs Act).
Particularities of Nordrhein-Westfalen
Specifics: with 9 Finanzaemter NRW has the most decentralised Erbschaftsteuer (German inheritance tax) administration of any Bundesland (German federal state) and applies the maximum Grunderwerbsteuer (German real estate transfer tax) rate of 6.5 %. The notarial system is mixed: the Nurnotariat applies in the Rhineland (left-Rhine and Bergisches Land) and the Anwaltsnotariat in Westphalia (right-Rhine, OLG Hamm). NRW has three independent Notarkammern (Bars of German Notaries).[DE]
Freibetraege (tax-free allowances) for inheritance & gift
Freibetraege apply uniformly across Germany under § 16 ErbStG and are identical in Nordrhein-Westfalen to all other Bundeslaender. They renew every 10 years (§ 14 ErbStG).
Steuerklasse I
EUR 500,000
Spouse / registered civil partner
§ 16 (1) No. 1 ErbStG
Steuerklasse I
EUR 400,000
Children and stepchildren
§ 16 (1) No. 2 ErbStG
Steuerklasse I
EUR 200,000
Grandchildren (with predeceased parents: EUR 400,000)
§ 16 (1) No. 3 ErbStG
Steuerklasse II / III
EUR 20,000
Other acquirers (siblings, nephews, third parties)
§ 16 (1) No. 4-7 ErbStG
Important deadlines
These deadlines apply nationwide, including in Nordrhein-Westfalen. Missing a deadline can have substantial legal and financial consequences.
Erbausschlagung (disclaimer; abroad: 6 months)
§ 1944 BGB
Reporting to competent Erbschaftsteuer-Finanzamt
§ 30 ErbStG
Renewal of Freibetraege for Schenkungen
§ 14 ErbStG
Holding period for business assets (Regel-/Optionsverschonung)
§ 13a (6) ErbStG
Limitation for evaded inheritance tax
§ 169 (2) AO
Assess your situation in Nordrhein-Westfalen
Use the navigator for a personalised checklist with deadlines and Freibetraege.
Start navigator