Chester County Register of Wills, “Agent” to Collect Inheritance Tax Payments, but Not to Prepare the Returns

Most Recently Updated Sunday, April 22, 2018: Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Payments Collected by Chester County Register of Wills.

Chester County Probate Attorney, Kelly Barse.

Who Collects Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Payments?

The Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax is levied against every penny of a Pennsylvania Probate Estate.  So no matter how small the estate the executor will likely have to file a Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return. But, to whom do you make your Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax payments?

The Chester County Register of Wills serves as an “Agent” of the Commonwealth to accept the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return and to collect the payment.   

Will the Register Help You Complete the Inheritance Tax Form?

The Register will not help the executor or administrator complete the actual return. Clients are often confused by the Register’s status.  While the Register of Wills’ personnel is friendly and helpful, they are not attorneys and cannot give you legal advice.  The Register is tasked to collect the forms and tax payment.  But, the Register will not help with calculating the tax due.

While the Chester County Register’s staff is well trained in many aspects of the probate process, they are not trained to give direction or advice concerning the correct completion of the return or calculation of the tax. The Register provides you with a Form 1500 tax return instruction booklet. The Executor is responsible to correctly prepare and submit the return.  Most executors have never prepared an Inheritance Tax return.  Typically, the executor or administrator of a Chester County estate will obtain a Probate Attorney’s help.

Will a Probate Attorney Help Me with the Inheritance Tax Return?

Yes, Probate Lawyers regularly complete an executor’s inheritance tax return.  The Probate Attorney also helps facilitate the payment, making sure the Register receives the correct paperwork.  Our firm regularly prepares Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax returns, so there is nothing you can show us that we haven’t already seen. The estate pays the cost of having a probate attorney prepare the return.  Further, the cost is deductible on the inheritance tax return.

Please contact our office for a free consultation. Wills, Trusts, and Estates, It’s all we do!

In Conclusion:

In this Post, I tried to introduce you to the Probate Process and specifically about Inheritance Tax payments. Hopefully, you can answer the question, “Who collects Inheritance Tax Payments in Chester County?  Further, I included links to even more detailed information on my website.  So, let me know how I did, comments and questions are welcome!

Furthermore, I would be happy to answer your questions.  If you have any other matters feel free to contact our office for a free consultation. We try to make the process as painless as possible!

Wills, Trusts, Probate, and Estate Litigation, It’s All We Do!

Author, Peter Klenk, Esq.

Probate Attorney, Tatyana Gleyzer.