BedrockCalculator
Verified Primary-Source Mathematics
Verified by Aapt Dubey, MBA (Marketing & Finance)Last verified August 23, 2026

Greece Inheritance Tax Calculator (Category A/B/C)

Quick Answer: A child inheriting **€250,000** from a parent in Greece (Category A) owes an estimated **€1,000** in inheritance tax, after a €150,000 tax-free exemption and a 1% rate on the €100,000 above it -- an effective rate of just 0.4% on the full inheritance.

Adjust Inputs

Quick Prepayment Scenarios
Greek Inheritance Tax Due
€1,000.00

Exact interest reduction computed via penny-reconciled monthly amortization schedules.

Net Amount to Beneficiary
€249,000.00
Tax-Free Exemption Applied
€150,000.00
Taxable Amount
€100,000.00
Effective Tax Rate
0.40%
Marginal (Top Bracket) Rate
1.00%
Beneficiary Category
Category A -- Spouse, Children, Parents, Grandchildren

> Quick Answer: A child inheriting €250,000 from a parent in Greece (Category A) owes an estimated €1,000 in inheritance tax, after a €150,000 tax-free exemption and a 1% rate on the €100,000 above it -- an effective rate of just 0.4% on the full inheritance.

Overview

Greek inheritance tax (φόρος κληρονομιάς) is governed by Law 2961/2001, and it works nothing like a single flat rate applied to an estate's total value. Instead, it is assessed per beneficiary, on the value each individual heir personally receives, and the exemption threshold and rate schedule both depend entirely on that beneficiary's relationship to the deceased -- not on the overall size of the estate.

Every heir falls into one of three statutory categories:

  • Category A -- spouse, children, parents, and grandchildren -- the closest family, with the largest exemption (€150,000) and the gentlest rates (1%-10%).
  • Category B -- siblings, nieces/nephews, grandparents, and in-laws -- more distant family, with a smaller exemption (€30,000) and higher rates (5%-20%).
  • Category C -- unrelated heirs or very distant relations -- the smallest exemption (€6,000) and the steepest rates (20%-40%).

A special enhanced exemption of €400,000 applies specifically to a surviving spouse (or registered civil partner) or a minor child, but only where the marriage or partnership lasted at least 5 years before the decedent's death -- a materially larger shield than the standard €150,000 Category A exemption.

This calculator computes the tax due for a single beneficiary receiving a single inherited amount, under whichever category and exemption applies to that specific heir. If an estate is split among multiple heirs in different categories, calculate each heir's tax separately using their own inherited share.

Important timing note. Law 5303/2026 has already been published in Greece and introduces changes to inheritance tax rules for deaths occurring on or after 16 September 2026. The exact substance of that change could not be verified during this research session. The tables in this calculator reflect the framework understood to apply to deaths BEFORE that date. If the death you are calculating for occurred on or after 16 September 2026, confirm whether the new law's provisions apply to your case before relying on this result.

How This Is Calculated

CategoryWhoExemption
ASpouse, children, parents, grandchildren€150,000 (or €400,000 for a qualifying spouse/minor child)
BSiblings, nieces/nephews, grandparents, in-laws€30,000
CUnrelated / distant relations€6,000
BracketRate
------
€0 - €150,0000% (exempt)
€150,001 - €300,0001%
€300,001 - €600,0005%
Above €600,00010%
BracketRate
------
€0 - €30,0000% (exempt)
€30,001 - €100,0005%
€100,001 - €300,00010%
Above €300,00020%
BracketRate
------
€0 - €6,0000% (exempt)
€6,001 - €100,00020%
€100,001 - €300,00030%
Above €300,00040%

Worked Example

Category A, standard exemption: a child inherits €250,000 from a parent.

  1. Exemption: €150,000.
  2. Taxable amount: €250,000 − €150,000 = €100,000, which falls entirely within the 1% bracket (€150,001-€300,000).
  3. Tax due: €100,000 × 1% = €1,000.
  4. Net to beneficiary: €250,000 − €1,000 = €249,000. Effective rate: 1,000 / 250,000 = 0.4%.

Category A, larger inheritance spanning two brackets: a child inherits €500,000.

  1. Exemption: €150,000. The €150,000-€300,000 tier is fully used: €150,000 × 1% = €1,500.
  2. The €300,000-€500,000 portion (€200,000) falls in the 5% tier: €200,000 × 5% = €10,000.
  3. Total tax due: €1,500 + €10,000 = €11,500.

Category A, spouse with the special €400,000 exemption: the same €500,000 inheritance, but received by a surviving spouse married 5+ years.

  1. Exemption: €400,000 instead of €150,000 -- this fully absorbs the 1% bracket.
  2. The €400,000-€500,000 portion (€100,000) falls in the 5% tier: €100,000 × 5% = €5,000 total tax due -- less than half the tax owed under the standard exemption for the same inherited amount.

Category C, unrelated heir: someone with no family relationship inherits €50,000.

  1. Exemption: €6,000.
  2. Taxable amount: €50,000 − €6,000 = €44,000, taxed at the 20% bracket (€6,001-€100,000).
  3. Tax due: €44,000 × 20% = €8,800 -- an effective rate of 17.6%, over 40 times the effective rate a Category A heir would pay on the same amount.

What This Does Not Account For

  • The post-16-September-2026 rule change. Law 5303/2026 changes inheritance tax for deaths on or after that date; its specific provisions could not be verified this session and are NOT reflected here. Confirm which legal regime applies to your specific case.
  • Real estate valuation quirks. Where the inheritance includes real estate, Greek inheritance tax is typically assessed on the property's official objective/zone value (the same "τιμή ζώνης" concept used for ENFIA), not necessarily its market value. This calculator assumes you have already determined the correct taxable value of whatever you inherited.
  • Multiple beneficiaries of the same estate. This calculator computes tax for one beneficiary's individually-received share only. If an estate is split among several heirs, each heir's tax must be calculated separately on their own share and category.
  • Debts, funeral expenses, and other deductions. Certain estate liabilities and expenses can reduce the taxable inheritance before the exemption and brackets are applied; this calculator assumes the "inherited amount" you enter is already the final net taxable value.
  • Special exemptions beyond the spouse/minor-child case. Additional exemptions exist for specific circumstances (e.g., disabled heirs, certain agricultural property, works of art donated to the state) that are not modeled here.
  • Lifetime gifts and parental transfers (γονική παροχή). Greece taxes lifetime gifts and parental property transfers under a related but separate framework with its own rate schedule; this calculator covers inheritance-at-death only, not gifts made during the donor's lifetime.
  • Filing deadlines and procedural requirements. This calculator computes the tax amount only; it does not address the inheritance tax return filing deadline (generally within months of death, extended for heirs abroad) or the procedural steps for accepting an inheritance in Greece.

Common Pitfalls

  • Assuming the standard €150,000 Category A exemption applies to a surviving spouse. Spouses (and minor children) married/partnered 5+ years qualify for the much larger €400,000 exemption -- using the standard exemption instead would significantly overstate their tax bill.
  • Misclassifying a beneficiary's category. The three categories map to specific relationship groups (e.g., siblings are Category B, not Category A) -- getting the category wrong changes both the exemption and every bracket rate that applies.
  • Applying the bracket rate to the whole inheritance instead of just the amount above the exemption. Like an income tax scale, each bracket taxes only its own slice -- someone inheriting exactly at a bracket boundary does not suddenly owe the higher rate on their entire inheritance.
  • Forgetting real estate is often valued at its objective/zone value, not market price. This can cut both ways -- sometimes lower than market value, sometimes higher, depending on how current the zone valuation is for that property.
  • Ignoring the September 2026 law change. If the death you're calculating for happened on or after 16 September 2026, this calculator's standard tables may not reflect the current rules -- confirm which regime applies before relying on the result.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who counts as "Category A"?
Spouse, children (including adopted children), parents, and grandchildren of the deceased. This is the closest-family category, carrying the largest exemption and the lowest rates.
Is inheritance tax paid by the estate or by each heir individually?
By each heir individually, on the value of what they personally receive -- not as a single tax computed once on the whole estate and then divided up. Two heirs of the same estate, in different categories or receiving different amounts, can owe very different tax bills.
What is the special €400,000 exemption, exactly?
It is an enhanced Category A exemption available only to a surviving spouse or registered civil partner, or a minor child of the deceased, and only where the marriage or partnership lasted at least 5 years before death. It replaces the standard €150,000 exemption with a much larger €400,000 shield for that specific heir.
Does this calculator account for the new law announced for later in 2026?
Not fully. Law 5303/2026 has been published and changes inheritance tax rules for deaths on or after 16 September 2026, but its exact provisions could not be verified during this research session, so this calculator models the pre-16-September-2026 framework. Confirm the applicable regime for your specific case, especially if the death occurred in the second half of 2026.
How is real estate valued for inheritance tax purposes?
Generally at its official objective/zone value (the same government-assigned value used for ENFIA), rather than its market price. If your inheritance includes real estate, confirm the correct objective value with a notary or AADE before entering an amount into this calculator.
Can inheritance tax be paid in installments?
Greek inheritance tax can generally be paid in installments under specific procedural rules, though a discount may apply for lump-sum payment. This calculator computes only the total tax amount, not the installment schedule.

Sources

  • Law 2961/2001 (Greek Inheritance, Gift, and Parental Transfer Tax Code), as amended: Category A/B/C exemption and bracket structure, CONFIRMED via cross-corroboration between an independent secondary-source summary table and a direct fetch of a Greek law firm's published guide, both giving identical figures.
  • Secondary-source confirmation of the special €400,000 spouse/minor-child exemption (5-year marriage/partnership requirement).
  • Secondary-source notice that Law 5303/2026 changes inheritance tax rules for deaths on or after 16 September 2026; its specific provisions were not independently verified this session.
  • Ministry of Economy and Finance (Greece), Capital Taxation guidance -- general framework reference for capital/inheritance taxation.
  • AADE (Independent Authority for Public Revenue) is the official source of record for filing procedures and any case-specific rulings; its portal could not be fetched directly during this research session.

Other financial tools for this country

Compare this calculator in other countries

Related calculators in this suite

Complementary financial planning tools