Dublin pensioner to wed friend in bid to avoid inheritance tax

Eighty-five year old Matt will marry Michael O’Sullivan. Both men are straight but have decided that getting married is the best route to avoiding the tax bill on Matt’s home.

They have been friends for almost 30 years.

“I am marrying him because he will be part of my life when I die and whatever I have, ie my home, there will be no problems, he can have it,” Matt said.

“It’s a way to avoid tax. I thought it was a very good thing that came into my head to say, nowadays, this is official.”

Matt told RTÉ’s Liveline that Mr O’Sullivan was “his best friend”.

Gifts and inheritances may attract Capital Acquisitions Tax (Cat) but relationship of the parties in such exchanges affect the thresholds.

Cat is charged at 33 per cent but this is waived on a gift or inheritance given by a spouse or civil partner.

Matt said: “I never married, he was married and has a talented daughter in London, he had another partner and another daughter and son with them. They are grown up now and he is officially divorced. With the house, this is the easiest way.”

He added that Mr O’Sullivan had assured him that if he met a woman, they would only be partners.

“I did ask him what would happen if he met a woman, but he has said it would only ever be a partner for him,” he said.

Mr O’Sullivan said: “I know Matt 29 years, the same age as my own daughter, and he lives in the same area, Stoneybatter.

“He is one of the nicest people you could ever meet in your life.

“Matt said to me ‘look, I’m going to leave you the house’. I said it’s a nice idea but because of tax reasons I’d have to pay half to the Government.

“But once we are married, I’m his spouse then and if one partner dies, the house automatically goes to the other partner.”

He added: “I love Matt, but not in a sexual way. I’m his carer now and as Matt said to me one day, ‘it isn’t a bad idea’.”