Abstract
Inheritance tax is intended to fulfil three objectives: to generate fiscal revenue, to promote equal opportunities between generations and to limit the concentration of wealth. In its current form, it does not adequately fulfil any of these objectives. The preferential treatment of business property is particularly problematic. It increases the concentration of wealth and can lead to macroeconomic productivity losses if companies are continued by less suitable heirs instead of more productive buyers. To create a simpler, fairer and socially accepted system, a uniform inheritance tax rate of around 10 % and a one-off high allowance should be introduced, and special rules should be abolished