Estate tax/inheritance tax ??

[Eldritch]

Does your country/state have it?

And what are your feelings on it?

Would you institute it if you could (if you don't have one), or abolish it (in case you do have it)?

No poll, since the issue is at least potentially a complicated one.

[Treffie]

I think it should be abolished altogether. Your parents work their bollocks off to leave you something when they pass, and then the Govt gets their dirty hands on it.

[Eldritch]

I think it should be abolished altogether. Your parents work their bollocks off to leave you something when they pass, and then the Govt gets their dirty hands on it.

My feelings exactly. Besides, your parents already have paid taxes on everything they built/purchased/earned.

[Loddfafner]

Estate taxes interfere with the continuity of families and contributes to rootlessness. It becomes harder and harder for a family to build an attachment to a place over several generations.

[nisse]

Both Canada (I think in some cases) and Ukraine have it. I don't agree with it since, as was already pointed out, taxes have already been paid.

[Psychonaut]

Estate taxes interfere with the continuity of families and contributes to rootlessness. It becomes harder and harder for a family to build an attachment to a place over several generations.

Agreed. It is possibly the most socially destructive of all taxes and should be the first to be abolished.

[Groenewolf]

I agree with the posters above. It is also a double taxation here, first you pay the inheritance tax and then you have to pay over the amount received the regular income tax.

[antonio]

I agree with you all, and add another reason: it's like steal a dead man...taking into account, the defunt one unprobably prefers give a last amount to the ones which passes yet thru his life stealing it.

OTOH, I must add a relevant exception: for me it should be maintained for really big fishes which, at least in a RomanCatholic traditional society how this used to be, are always suspected on the ways they became filthy rich. In fact, even if they did not directly steal or cheat nothing from nobody, they for sure payed workers less than they deserved...if not, how they become so rich?

[Loki]

Estate taxes interfere with the continuity of families and contributes to rootlessness. It becomes harder and harder for a family to build an attachment to a place over several generations.

... which is why the pro-multiculturalist governments love it. It's a great social equaliser. On the one hand (the socialist perspective) I do find merits in it, as it (as least partially) limits unfairness of being born into a rich family and hence have a headstart over those who have not been so lucky. No-one should build their success on what their parents have achieved. Or should they?

[Psychonaut]

Or should they?

Of course they should. Previously, it was unheard of for every single adult to amass the amount of money needed to buy a house. Now, most people live the bulk of their adult life in debt just trying to purchase a home. Why should I not be able to give my children my home? Because the way it's set up now, if I pass on a house, my kids are required to pay between 25-49% of the home's value in taxes. Thus, few are able to do so and must sell the family home just to pay the inheritance tax. This accomplishes nothing but keeping 99% of the population in constant debt. Who does something like that benefit? Certainly not a single one of the 99%.