The Inheritance
If You Plan to Sell
Your Inheritance Tax Breakdown
See your CAT liability, CGT if selling, probate costs, and what you'll actually receive — all in one place.
Calculate CAT (inheritance tax), CGT if you sell, and probate costs — so you know exactly what you'll receive from an inherited property.
See your CAT liability, CGT if selling, probate costs, and what you'll actually receive — all in one place.
When someone dies and leaves you property, two taxes may apply: Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) on the inheritance itself, and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) if you later sell the property. Understanding how both work together is critical for planning.
CAT is charged at 33% on the value of an inheritance above your tax-free threshold. The threshold depends on your relationship to the deceased. Since Budget 2025, a child inheriting from a parent has a lifetime threshold of €400,000 (Group A). Siblings, nieces, nephews, and grandchildren have €40,000 (Group B). Everyone else — including unmarried partners, cousins, and friends — has just €20,000 (Group C). These are cumulative lifetime thresholds: all gifts and inheritances from anyone in the same group since 5 December 1991 count towards the limit.
There is no CGT when you inherit. Your "base cost" is automatically the market value at the date of death. If you later sell the property for more than this value, you pay CGT at 33% on the gain (minus the €1,270 annual exemption and allowable selling costs). If property values haven't changed much, the CGT bill on a quick sale may be minimal.
If you inherit a home you've already been living in as your main residence for at least 3 years before the inheritance, and you don't own another property, the home may be completely exempt from CAT — regardless of its value. You must continue living there for 6 years after inheriting. This relief can save tens of thousands in tax.
Probate is the legal process of administering a deceased person's estate. Solicitor fees for probate in Ireland typically range from €2,000 for a simple estate to €7,500+ for complex or contested estates. These costs reduce the net value of what beneficiaries receive.
Related tools: Total Cost of Buying · Mortgage Switching Calculator · SEAI Grant Calculator
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