How do you spend the last money in your life?

September 18, 17:43

I and you will die someday.

Have you ever wondered what to do with heritage at that time?

I think most people intend to leave it to their families, but there is an option to donate a part to an NPO or public interest corporation to use for social contribution.

Donating heritage is called "bequest donation".

Interest is growing little by little now.

(Ministry of Economic Affairs reporter Asami Terada)

Bequest donation is "sowing seeds for the future"

The other day, I asked Sachiko in her 60s to talk to me.

A woman who has made a bequest donation to a fund that supports children in orphanages, children with intractable diseases and their families.

Sachiko got married in her twenties and has lived in the United States and Middle Eastern countries due to her husband's work.

However, my husband became ill when he was in his 40s and suddenly passed away.

After that, he opened an English class to earn living expenses and raised two children by himself.

Life was not easy, and he sometimes received children's clothes from his neighborhood.

Even so, I have cherished the money that my husband left behind.

Sachiko

"The money that my husband left behind as a corporate warrior after working hard seemed to be in exchange for life, so I couldn't help it."

Around the age of 60, Sachiko got sick.

In the worst case, I couldn't get up for half a day.

At that time, he faced his own weaknesses, and the existence of vulnerable children no longer seemed to be a thing.

He said that he learned about bequest donations on TV and other media while thinking "Is there anything that children in the future can do?"

Sachiko:

"I felt that this money was for that reason, and I felt that what I was looking for was here. I think the bequest donation is'sowing'. I may leave a small seed, but I died. Also, I think it will someday sprout and bring fruit and have the power to move the mountains. I wanted to support the children of the future and a new generation. "

Bequest Donation Spreading Interest

The number of people who are interested in bequest donations is gradually increasing.

Looking at the materials disclosed by the National Tax Agency in response to the request of the NPO "Seeds", the bequest donation was 6.2 billion yen in 2010, but it was 46.7 billion yen in 2018.

The Japan Succession Donation Association, which is made up of inheritance specialists such as judicial scriveners, conducted an awareness survey of 1,000 people in their 50s and 70s in August.

22.9% of the respondents said they had considered bequest donations, and almost one in five was interested.

It is believed that the background is that the number of people who are single throughout their lives and have no heirs is increasing, and that awareness of social contribution is increasing.

The impression is "what the rich do"

However, only 1.2% of respondents said they had prepared a will to donate.

Even though I am interested, I have not reached the point of proceeding.

When asked about their impressions of bequest donations, 45.7% answered "what the rich do" and 24.6% answered "there is little information and it seems difficult to understand."

I am interested, but the current situation emerges that I do not know where to consult.

Miki Miura, CEO of the Japan Succession Donation Association, calls:

CEO Miura

"Donating to an organization that wants to support a part of the heritage can be said to be the last self-actualization of life. It does not have to be a lot of money, and if you have extra property after you die, donate You don't have to worry about living expenses in old age because it is a form of doing

The association has set up telephone counters at 10 judicial scrivener corporations nationwide, and experts who are familiar with bequest donations provide donation procedures and tax consultations.

The National Legacy Gift Association has also set up contact points at 14 NPOs and foundations nationwide to enhance the consultation system.

It also has the effect of stopping the outflow and concentration of assets.

Delivering bequest donations to those in need can help solve a variety of problems.

Not only that, it has been pointed out that the effect actually extends to unexpected places.

One is asset diversification.

In Japanese society, where the population is aging, the number of so-called "elderly inheritances" is increasing, in which people in their 60s and 70s who die in their 80s and 90s inherit their heritage.

According to the Financial Services Agency, the ratio of financial assets held by households aged 60 and over among all households was 47.4% in 1999.

That was 65.7% in 2014, and the concentration of assets in elderly households is increasing.

The other is to stop the outflow of assets from rural areas.

Local assets are leaking to cities as children living in urban areas inherit the assets that their parents have built in rural areas.

When Daiwa Institute of Research estimates the inflow and outflow of inherited assets by prefecture for the 10 years from 2016, the inflow amount is larger in the Tokyo metropolitan area and Osaka, and the outflow is larger in Hokkaido and many prefectures.

He points out that the spread of bequest donations will increase the potential for heritage to help revitalize rural areas and support the younger generation.

Bequest donation What kind of preparation is necessary

So how do you make a bequest donation?

Experts are encouraged to clearly state their willingness to donate in their will.

Then, after death, the heritage will be donated directly to the NPO you are interested in.

You can also use a trust system such as a bank to conclude a contract and entrust the donation procedure.

You can also use letters or ending notes to convey your intentions to the family members who will become heirs, inherit the inheritance, and then ask them to donate.

If certain conditions are met, the donated amount will be exempt from inheritance tax.

Many people don't know how to choose a donation organization, but I advise that if you think about what kind of activities you want the heritage to be useful for, you will be able to see the bequest destination.

We also recommend that you make sure that the organization accepts bequests and that the use and accounting of donations is clearly defined.

After the interview

The other day, I made a donation through crowdfunding to help restaurants and farmers in need because of the corona sickness.

I feel that I can understand the thoughts of Sachiko-san, who I interviewed this time.

I haven't really thought about whether to make a bequest donation in the future.

However, listening to Mr. Sachiko, I feel that leaving a part of the property for the sake of society is the last way to spend money, reflecting the person's way of life.

Reporter of the Ministry of Economic Affairs

Asami Terada

Joined in 2009 After working at the

Kochi Broadcasting Station, the Ministry of Economic Affairs covered a wide range of fields from consumption sites to inheritance issues.