The value of the estate, i.e. the inherited assets, on the day of the testator's death is decisive for the amount of inheritance tax.
Long waiting times before an heir or heiress "really holds the estate in his or her hands," tax consultant Sascha Matussek knows from experience. An inheritance can quickly turn into financial ruin in a stock market crash. Testators should clarify before their death who has access to the custody account so that the securities can be sold quickly in the event of a crash.