Shay Brennan
Question:344. Deputy Shay Brennan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance the revenue raised to date in 2024 from inheritance tax; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [69652/25]
View answerThursday, 18 December 2025
Questions (344)
Written answers
Capital Acquisitions Tax (CAT) is a tax which applies to both gifts and inheritances and is charged at a rate of 33%. For CAT purposes, the relationship between the person giving a gift or inheritance and the person who receives it determines the maximum amount, known as the “Group threshold”, below which CAT does not arise. The group thresholds were most recently increased in Budget 2025.
The Group A threshold increased to €400,000 from €335,000 in Budget 2025. This threshold applies where the beneficiary is a child of the disponer. This includes adopted children, stepchildren and some foster children. Parents may also fall within this threshold where they take an inheritance from a child.
The Group B threshold increased to €40,000 in Budget 2025 from €32,500. This threshold applies where the beneficiary is a brother, sister, niece, nephew, or lineal ancestor or lineal descendant of the disponer. Following recent changes made to Capital Acquisitions Tax legislation, the Group B threshold also applies to persons who receive gifts and inheritances from the wider family of their foster parents, for example, from their foster siblings, uncles, aunts and grandparents.
The Group C threshold increased to €20,000 in Budget 2025 from €16,250, with this threshold applying in all other cases.
Along with tax free group thresholds, various reliefs and exemptions are available in relation to CAT, including agricultural and business relief. There is also the small gift exemption, favourite niece or nephew relief, and the dwelling house exemption.
I am informed by Revenue that the total amount of Capital Acquisitions Tax received in 2024 (comprising gift tax and inheritance tax) was approximately €849.7 million, and that provisional 2025 CAT receipts to the end of November amounts to approximately €1.075 billion.
I am also advised that CAT receipts by category for previous years, including inheritance tax, are available on the Revenue website at: www.revenue.ie/en/corporate/information-about-revenue/statistics/capital-taxes/cat/receipts-breakdown.aspx
Finally any changes to CAT must be considered among various demands within the overall Budget package, as they have been in the past.