The implications of inheritance and gift taxes on the social reality are stadily increasing. This is due to the fact that
the post war generation whose task was to repare the damages of World War II was followed by a generation whose
task was to save what their predecessors had achieved. Therefore the latter have important assets to transmit to the
next generation. Furthermore inheritance and gift tax law needs to take into account that the transmission of
enterpreneurial assets to the the eligible and willing successor is not impended by to a heavy tax burden.
Accordingly the Austrian tax reform-commitee as well as the European Community within its tax harmonization
activities are emphasizing on the problems connected to inheritance and gift taxation.
Moreover the increasing mobility of labour and the changements in the organisation of leisure time do encourage
"international inheritance" and "international donations". Consequently the conclusion of double taxation
conventions is getting more important.
All this demands and justifies the serious examination of inheritance and gift taxation in an Austrian, an
international and a European respect.