Notification of acquisition according to Section 30 ErbStG

An important measure in the context of succession advice is the timely submission of the acquisition notification in accordance with Section 30 of the Inheritance and Gift Tax Act (ErbStG).

The notification of acquisition is a legally required notification to the tax office about an acquired asset (due to a gift or inheritance). Pursuant to Section 30 ErbStG, acquirers are obliged to notify the competent inheritance or gift tax office of the acquisition within three months of becoming aware of the acquisition.

Requirements for the acquisition notification

The acquisition notification must contain all relevant information about the acquisition, including:

• details of the testator or donor and the acquirer,

• a precise description of the acquired assets,

• the date of acquisition,

• the estimated value of the acquired assets.

Consequences of failing to notify

The timely submission of the acquisition notification is a decisive step in succession planning in order to fulfill tax obligations and create legal clarity. Failure to file an acquisition notification or filing it late can result in tax evasion and thus criminal tax consequences. In order to prevent these consequences, it is possible to make up for the omitted purchase notification by making a voluntary disclosure with exemption from prosecution.

Our specialist lawyers for tax and inheritance law in Frankfurt and Berlin therefore offer you tax advice not only on the correct or subsequent submission of the acquisition notification, but also on all related succession planning issues.