Alternatives to Hiring a Pennsylvania Probate Attorney for Estate Taxes
Five alternatives to full probate attorney administration in Pennsylvania. Compare DIY guides, limited-scope attorneys, CPAs, and online services for estate tax filing.
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All articles about Pennsylvania Final Tax & Estate Tax Guide.
Best Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Guide for Out-of-State Executors
The best resource for out-of-state executors managing Pennsylvania inheritance tax remotely. Covers 67-county navigation, four tax deadlines, and remote filing strategies.
Best Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Resource for Executors Handling an Estate Alone
The best resource for Pennsylvania executors managing inheritance tax, income tax, and estate filings without an attorney. Covers all four tax obligations.
Executor Personal Liability in Pennsylvania: What Can Happen If You Get It Wrong
Pennsylvania executors face personal financial liability for tax errors and premature distributions. Here's when surcharge exposure attaches and how to protect yourself.
Family Settlement Agreement Pennsylvania: Bypass Orphans' Court the Legal Way
A Pennsylvania family settlement agreement lets heirs close an estate without court. Learn when it works, what it requires, and how it protects the executor.
Filing Taxes for a Deceased Person in Pennsylvania (PA-40 Final Return)
Pennsylvania executors must file a final PA-40 for the decedent. Here's what income to include, how surviving spouses file jointly, and the April 15 deadline.
How Long Does Probate Take in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania probate typically takes 9–18 months. Here's what drives the timeline and where executors most commonly lose time.
How to Avoid Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax (Legally)
Pennsylvania inheritance tax hits almost every estate. Here are the legal strategies executors and families use to reduce or eliminate the bill.
How to Handle Four Pennsylvania Death Taxes Without an Attorney
Step-by-step approach to managing Pennsylvania's four death-related taxes yourself: inheritance tax, fiduciary income tax, final income tax, and federal estate tax.
IRS Form 706 in Pennsylvania: When to File, Portability Elections, and How It Coordinates with REV-1500
When Pennsylvania estates must file IRS Form 706 in 2026, how the DSUE portability election works, and how 706 coordinates with PA REV-1500 and Form 1041.
PA Estate Tax Exemption 2026: What Pennsylvania Residents Actually Owe
Pennsylvania has no state estate tax but imposes inheritance tax on almost all transfers. Learn 2026 rates, the $15M federal exemption, and PA agricultural exemptions.
How to Claim Pennsylvania's 5% Inheritance Tax Discount (And Not Miss the Window)
PA offers a 5% discount on inheritance tax paid within 3 months of death. Here's how to calculate an estimate and pay the Register of Wills in time.
PA Inheritance Tax Return Instructions: How to File the REV-1500
Step-by-step guide to filing Pennsylvania's REV-1500 inheritance tax return: deadlines, schedules, where to file, and costly mistakes to avoid.
PA Safe Deposit Box After Death: Legal Steps and Required Forms
Pennsylvania restricts safe deposit box access after death. Learn the REV-1845 notice, REV-487 will retrieval, REV-485 inventory form, and the 20-day deadline.
Pennsylvania's 15-Month Real Estate Rule: Inheritance Tax, Liens, and the Escrow Trap
PA's 15-month rule lets the sale price substitute for a formal appraisal—but only if you navigate the inheritance tax lien and escrow holdback first. Here's how.
Pennsylvania Estate Income Tax: Final PA-40, PA-41 Filing Rules, and the Nonresident Withholding Trap
Pennsylvania estate income tax explained: the final PA-40 return, surviving spouse filing rules, IRD treatment, PA-41 fiduciary returns, and nonresident beneficiary withholding.
Pennsylvania Estate Tax Extension: How to File REV-1846 and What It Actually Covers
How to request a 6-month extension for the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return using REV-1846, plus which expenses are deductible.
Pennsylvania Family Settlement Agreement: Close an Estate Without Orphans' Court
Most Pennsylvania estates can close with a Family Settlement Agreement instead of Orphans' Court. Here's what it requires, what it protects, and when it falls apart.
Pennsylvania Fiduciary Income Tax Return: PA-41 Filing Requirements
The PA-41 fiduciary income tax return is required when an estate earns as little as $33. Learn filing thresholds, EIN requirements, and nonresident withholding.
IRS Form 706 and Portability Election for Pennsylvania Estates
Most PA estates owe no federal estate tax in 2026—but surviving spouses can permanently lose millions in tax protection if the executor skips the Form 706 portability election.
Pennsylvania Formal Accounting in Orphans' Court: When It's Required and How It Works
When Pennsylvania estates require a formal Orphans' Court accounting under O.C. Rules 2.1 and 2.4, and how creditor advertising and beneficiary objections work.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Deductions: Funeral Expenses and Other Allowable Costs
Pennsylvania lets executors deduct funeral expenses, debts, and administrative costs from the taxable estate—reducing what's owed. Here's what qualifies and what doesn't.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Exemptions and Deductions: What Reduces Your Bill
PA inheritance tax exemptions for spouses, children, charities, farms, and military. Plus which deductions on the REV-1500 lower your taxable estate.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Guide vs Hiring a Probate Attorney
Compare handling Pennsylvania's inheritance tax with a DIY guide versus hiring a probate attorney. Costs, trade-offs, and when each option makes sense for executors.
Penalty for Late Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax: What Happens If You Miss the Deadline
Missing Pennsylvania's 9-month inheritance tax deadline triggers daily interest and a 25% late filing penalty. Here's exactly what you owe and how to limit the damage.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax on Joint Accounts, TOD, and POD Assets
Avoiding probate doesn't avoid PA inheritance tax. Joint accounts, TOD, and POD designations are all taxable. Here's what beneficiaries owe and who pays.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax on Joint Accounts, TOD, and POD Assets
PA inheritance tax reaches non-probate assets. TOD accounts, POD accounts, and joint accounts all owe tax—and the beneficiary pays it personally.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Prepayment: How to Lock In the 5% Discount and Avoid Costly Penalties
Pennsylvania offers a 5% inheritance tax discount for prepayment within 3 months of death. Learn how to calculate the estimate, interest rates, and penalty rules.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax on Real Estate: Liens, Appraisals, and the 15-Month Rule
PA inheritance tax creates an automatic lien on inherited real estate. Understand valuation requirements, the 15-month rule, and how title companies handle it.
Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Waiver: What It Is and When You Need One
A PA inheritance tax waiver releases assets from the state's lien. Here's when financial institutions require one and how to get it.
Pennsylvania Medicaid Estate Recovery: The 45-Day Rule, Caregiver Exception, and Hardship Waivers
PA's DHS can pursue Medicaid estate recovery with no statute of limitations—but the 45-day forfeiture rule and caregiver exception can eliminate or reduce the claim entirely.
Average Cost of a Probate Attorney in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania probate attorney fees average $14,000 or more. Understand hourly rates, percentage-based billing, and which tasks you can handle yourself.
How Much Does Probate Cost in Pennsylvania? Fees by County
Pennsylvania probate fees vary county by county with no uniform statewide schedule. Here's what to expect for filing fees, short certificates, advertising, and attorney costs.
Pennsylvania Step-Up in Basis: Why PA Denies It for Joint Property
Pennsylvania refuses the step-up in basis for property held as tenants by the entireties or joint tenants. Here's the trap this creates for surviving spouses selling inherited homes.
Tax Deadlines After Death in Pennsylvania: Every Date You Cannot Miss
Pennsylvania imposes at least four separate tax deadlines after a death—some as early as 90 days. Miss the 3-month window and you lose a 5% discount that could be worth thousands.
Pennsylvania TOD Account Inheritance Tax: What Beneficiaries Don't Know Until It's Too Late
TOD and POD accounts bypass Pennsylvania probate but not inheritance tax. Learn who owes what, how to report it, and how joint accounts are handled.
How to Transfer a Car Title After Death in Pennsylvania
PennDOT has different title transfer procedures depending on how the vehicle was owned and whether an estate was opened. Here's the right process for each scenario.
REV-1500 Schedule Guide: Which Schedules Apply to Your Pennsylvania Estate
A plain-English breakdown of REV-1500 schedules A through N, which assets go where, and the most common filing mistakes.
Section 3101 Bank Release Pennsylvania: The $20,000 Rule That Skips Probate
How Pennsylvania's Section 3101 lets family members withdraw up to $20,000 per bank without probate, plus when you still need a court order.
Selling an Inherited House in Pennsylvania: Taxes, Safe Harbor, and the Escrow Trap
Selling inherited property in PA triggers inheritance tax liens, capital gains questions, and title company escrow holdbacks. Here's what to know before closing.
Tax Deadlines After Death in Pennsylvania: The Complete Timeline
Every Pennsylvania and federal tax deadline after a death—from Day 0 through Month 12—including the 3-month discount window, 9-month REV-1500, and April 15 filings.
TOD, POD, and Joint Bank Accounts: Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Rules
Pennsylvania inheritance tax applies to TOD accounts, POD accounts, and joint bank accounts even when they bypass probate. Here's who owes what and when.
Transfer Car Title After Death in Pennsylvania: PennDOT Forms MV-39 and MV-4ST
How to transfer a vehicle title after death in Pennsylvania: PennDOT procedures by ownership type, Form MV-39, MV-4ST, plate transfer rules, and fee structure.
What Is a Short Certificate in Pennsylvania?
A short certificate is Pennsylvania's proof of executor authority. Here's what it is, how to get one, and how many copies you actually need.