January 27th, 2014
In many cases, the
answer is: yes!
It is often possible
to deal with Spanish estate planning and structuring so as to reduce the impact
of Spanish Succession Tax within the Spanish Will.
If you have a Spanish
Will, this can assist in reducing Spanish Succession Tax in the following ways:
1. It ensures that you
have the flexibility you are legally allowed to select your beneficiaries; so
that the most tax advantageous succession route in the circumstances can be
identified and provided for.
2. It secures the best
legal basis for a fast and economical succession process, following a death.
This helps to ensure that the legal process can be completed within the very
tight timescales allowed under Spanish tax law. Conversely, any failure to
comply with the statutory timetable (for example, delays caused by not leaving
an up to date and valid Spanish Will) can expose beneficiaries to increased tax
liability, through the imposition of interest and penalties on the tax debt.
It is perfectly legal
and acceptable to organise your estate succession in Spain, so as to minimise
the exposure to Spanish Succession Tax- as far as legitimately possible in the
circumstances. In advising our clients, we consider all available routes to
achieve this. As our team is independent and not tied to any single process or
structure; we are able to provide objective and case- specific advice in each
individual client scenario. This ensures the most cost effective estate
planning solution within the constraints of each case.
