All small- and medium-sized family owned enterprises need to sooner or later undergo a change of ownership. When the elder generation is approaching their retirement they have to make a choice; either hand over the business to the younger generation or sell it to an outsider. The succession of the family owned business can create a life long dilemma for the entrepreneur. From the view of taxation there are, according to current legislation, no reasons to plan the succession to the younger generation. If no preparation has been done, the optional law system concerning inheritance will divide the property left. This can result in undesired effects, such as shattering the ownership. To plan the succession of generations can be costly and time consuming but contributes to favourable effects. The entrepreneur has the opportunity to decide how the company will be operated in the future with legal transactions. The younger generation will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of the company routines and be educated in the position as executive director. This thesis describes how a succession of generations can be planned and executed. We have attached great importance to the methods gift and sale of the company shares for a price below market value. If the elder generation has attained economic security, a succession of generations throughout the gift method are a good alternative. This method demands that some mandatory requirements are fulfilled. Gift enables for the elder generation to transfer the family business to the younger generation during their lifetime without any taxation. A sale of shares to the younger generation for a price below the market value gives the older generation a compensation that can be used to enhance their standard of living or compensate other offsprings. However, the older generation will more likely be taxed on a part of the sale. We do not consider today’s Swedish tax legislation, concerning succession of generations, compatible to fundamental taxation principles.

<p>All small- and medium-sized family owned enterprises need to sooner or later undergo a change of ownership. When the elder generation is approaching their retirement they have to make a choice; either hand over the business to the younger generation or sell it to an outsider. The succession of the family owned business can create a life long dilemma for the entrepreneur. From the view of taxation there are, according to current legislation, no reasons to plan the succession to the younger generation. If no preparation has been done, the optional law system concerning inheritance will divide the property left. This can result in undesired effects, such as shattering the ownership. To plan the succession of generations can be costly and time consuming but contributes to favourable effects. The entrepreneur has the opportunity to decide how the company will be operated in the future with legal transactions. The younger generation will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of the company routines and be educated in the position as executive director. This thesis describes how a succession of generations can be planned and executed. We have attached great importance to the methods gift and sale of the company shares for a price below market value. If the elder generation has attained economic security, a succession of generations throughout the gift method are a good alternative. This method demands that some mandatory requirements are fulfilled. Gift enables for the elder generation to transfer the family business to the younger generation during their lifetime without any taxation. A sale of shares to the younger generation for a price below the market value gives the older generation a compensation that can be used to enhance their standard of living or compensate other offsprings. However, the older generation will more likely be taxed on a part of the sale. We do not consider today’s Swedish tax legislation, concerning succession of generations, compatible to fundamental taxation principles.</p>