Declaring an Inheritance

Upon the death of a relative, heirs must declare the inheritance to the tax office within 6 months (or one year if the death occurred outside France), while paying inheritance duties owed based on relationship degree and inherited amount.

This page explains how to make this declaration, what information to provide, and offers a ready-to-use letter template, plus a tool to automatically generate your personalized letter.

When should you write this letter?

• A relative passed away and you're an heir;
• You need to clarify the composition of the estate;
• You want to inquire about exemptions applied by relationship degree;
• You need additional time to complete the declaration.

We extend our condolences, and hope this page eases your administrative procedures during this difficult time.

Required information to include

• Your first and last name and relationship to the deceased;
• The date of death and name of the deceased;
• The composition of the estate (property, bank accounts, etc.);
• Documents attached (death certificate, inheritance contract).

The more accurate this information is, the faster the declaration will be processed.

Official letter template

Important note: the letter sent to the tax office must be written in French, as it is a French administration. Below is a template you can use as a basis.

[First name LAST NAME]
[Full address]
[Tax number]

Tax Office for Individuals of [City]
[Office address]

Written in [City], on [Date]

Subject: Inheritance declaration

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am informing you of the death of [name], which occurred on [date], and am requesting information about the inheritance declaration.

[...]

→ The complete letter, tailored precisely to your situation and ready to send, is generated automatically in 3 minutes using the tool above.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the deadline for declaration?

6 months from the date of death if in France, or one year if outside.

Are all heirs exempt from inheritance duties?

No, full exemption is usually only for spouse/civil partner, with partial exemptions for other relationship degrees.

Who handles the inheritance declaration?

Usually a notary, but direct declaration is possible for simple or small estates.

What happens if I'm late with the declaration?

Late penalties may be applied to the amount owed.

Can I request a deadline to pay inheritance duties?

Yes, installment payment can be requested in certain cases.