Inheritance tax: Legal guide

In cases of inheritance, 'tornas' arise when an heir receives assets valued higher than their entitled share. To balance the distribution, this heir provides monetary compensation to the others. This is a common situation when an inheritance includes a house, land, a business, or another asset that cannot be physically divided without losing value. Instead of selling the asset, the family may assign it to one of the heirs and compensate the others. Although it may seem like a simple mathematical calculation, 'tornas' in inheritance cases can lead to conflicts regarding valuations, payment deadlines, taxes, and guarantees. An incorrectly calculated amount can favour one heir and disadvantage the others. In this guide, we explain how 'tornas' work, how they are calculated, when they should be paid, what precautions you should take before accepting an offer, and what to do when the heir responsible does not pay.