The Inheritance Transfer Tax, or Rasm al-Intiqal, is the cornerstone of inheritance law in Lebanon. It applies immediately upon death and covers all assets passed to heirs, whether located in Lebanon or abroad, depending on residency. The tax is charged on the net value of each heir’s share and applies to both inheritance and wills.
Coverage:
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Assets located in Lebanon (for Lebanese and foreigners).
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Assets abroad if the deceased was a Lebanese resident.
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Assets abroad belonging to foreigners residing in Lebanon (with treaty exemptions possible).
Characteristics:
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Applied to the net value of each heir’s share.
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Covers inheritance and wills.
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A tax clearance certificate must be obtained before property transfer.
After reviewing the declaration, the Ministry of Finance issues a tax order.
Key Points:
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Heirs have two months to pay the tax.
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Late payment incurs a penalty of 1% per month.
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Heirs may object to the tax within the same two-month period.
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Family deductions apply:
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LBP 2.4 billion for children, grandchildren, spouses, and parents.
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LBP 900 million for siblings and grandparents.
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LBP 400 million for other heirs.
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Conclusion: The inheritance transfer tax is the financial foundation of Lebanese inheritance law. Without paying it, no heir can complete property transfers.
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