Sir, – Further to “The Debate: Should inheritance tax be cut in the budget?” (Opinion & Analysis, July 9th), the small gift exemption of €3,000 has not increased since 2003. An increase to €10,000 would not be unreasonable.
Single people have 33 per cent of all their property, hard-earned savings and assets over €16,250 taken by the State when they die.
A legal opinion commissioned by the office of Maureen O’Sullivan TD in 2019 concluded that “stateable arguments can be made that this unequal treatment amounts to a breach of the rights protected by the Constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights”.
Inheritance tax must be reformed now to show that we are a democracy where justice and equality matter. – Yours, etc,
DEIRDRE QUINN,
Westport,
Co Mayo.