PRINTER'S NO. 341

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA


HOUSE BILL

No. 332 Session of 1981


        INTRODUCED BY HONAMAN, CESSAR, RAPPAPORT, NOYE, ANDERSON,
           J. L. WRIGHT, HASAY, COWELL, TELEK, TRELLO, BROWN, MILLER,
           FREIND, SALVATORE, PUNT, SEVENTY, ARTY, DOMBROWSKI, WENGER,
           GANNON, CALTAGIRONE, LETTERMAN, MERRY, COCHRAN, MICOZZIE,
           MACKOWSKI, JACKSON, SPITZ, MAIALE, MRKONIC, WOGAN, DURHAM,
           POTT, MULLEN, PETERSON, PERZEL, GEIST, E. Z. TAYLOR,
           W. D. HUTCHINSON, GRIECO, BURD, McINTYRE, MADIGAN, RASCO,
           PRATT, PETRARCA, DORR, ALDEN, GLADECK AND HEISER,
           FEBRUARY 2, 1981

        REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON FINANCE, FEBRUARY 2, 1981

                                     AN ACT

     1  Amending the act of June 15, 1961 (P.L.373, No.207), entitled
     2     "An act providing for the imposition of certain taxes upon
     3     the transfer of property passing from a decedent who was a
     4     resident of the Commonwealth at the time of his death or
     5     presumed death and of property having its situs in the
     6     Commonwealth of a decedent who was a nonresident of the
     7     Commonwealth at the time of his death or presumed death;
     8     imposing additional taxes to equal Federal Estate Tax
     9     Credits; defining and taxing certain transfers made in
    10     contemplation of death, or to take effect in possession or
    11     enjoyment at or after death; defining as a transfer and
    12     taxing the right of survivorship in certain property as to
    13     which such right exists; defining and exempting from tax,
    14     transfers to certain persons or for certain purposes or of
    15     certain property; providing for the valuation of property and
    16     interests in property, the transfer of which is subject to
    17     tax; defining and allowing deductions from the value of
    18     property, the transfer of which is subject to tax; providing
    19     for the persons ultimately liable for taxes in the absence of
    20     a direction by the decedent to the contrary; providing for
    21     the reporting of transfers and collection of taxes; imposing
    22     penalties upon banks or other financial institutions for
    23     failure to give notice to the Department of Revenue of the
    24     death of a party to a joint or trust deposit therein and upon
    25     persons who fail to file tax returns and documents; providing
    26     for the compromise of taxes in the case of alleged
    27     nonresidents of the Commonwealth; making it unlawful for any


     1     person to make a false return or report; providing for liens
     2     upon real property, the transfer of which is subject to tax,
     3     and release thereof; authorizing the Secretary of Revenue to
     4     bring suits in other jurisdictions for the collection of
     5     taxes, and authorizing officials of other jurisdictions to
     6     bring suits in the Commonwealth for the collection of death
     7     taxes imposed by their jurisdictions; providing for the
     8     refund of taxes to which the Commonwealth is not rightfully
     9     or equitably entitled; providing for appeals and protests
    10     from the imposition of taxes; regulating the entry into safe
    11     deposit boxes of a decedent by certain persons, and providing
    12     penalties; dealing with the jurisdiction, powers and
    13     procedure of the orphans' court, Secretary of Revenue,
    14     Department of Revenue, Attorney General, and register of
    15     wills in matters relating to taxes; and citing certain acts
    16     for repeal," changing the rate of inheritance tax for certain
    17     heirs.

    18     The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
    19  hereby enacts as follows:
    20     Section 1.  Section 403, act of June 15, 1961 (P.L.373,
    21  No.207), known as the "Inheritance and Estate Tax Act of 1961,"
    22  amended December 29, 1967 (P.L.915, No.411), is amended to read:
    23     Section 403.  Rate of Tax; Class A.--Inheritance tax upon the
    24  transfer of property passing to or for the use of any of the
    25  following shall be at the rate of six (6) percent:
    26     (1)  Grandfather, grandmother, father, mother, husband, wife
    27  and lineal descendants;
    28     (2)  Wife or widow, and husband or widower of a child;
    29     (3)  Brother or sister.
    30     Section 2.  This act shall take effect immediately and shall
    31  apply to:
    32     (1)  The estates of all decedents dying on or after that day;
    33     (2)  Intervivos transfers made by decedents dying on or after
    34  that day regardless of the date of the transfer.
    35     Existing laws shall remain in full force and effect for the
    36  estates of all decedents dying before the effective date of this
    37  act.

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