On 12 October, State Secretary De Jager's bill on modernising the inheritance law will be debated in the Lower House. SP MP Bashir announced today on the SP website that he will propose that children and grandchildren who inherit less than â'¬60,000 will not have to pay inheritance tax. According to Bashir, his proposal distributes the burden more fairly. “In the cabinet proposal, it is mainly the rich who benefit. In an economic time where the blows are already being absorbed by people with the smallest wallets, it is irresponsible to come up with measures that further increase the difference between rich and poor.†Furthermore, Bashir wants inheritance tax to be paid not only on the amount of inheritance, but also on the assets of the person who receives the inheritance. “If someone with little wealth and a millionaire receive the same inheritance, they will both pay the same amount of tax. I want the cabinet to investigate whether this can be made fairer.†Earlier, de Jager let it be known that he was not in favour of this; according to the state secretary, this would amount to a punishment on saving.
