Understanding Inheritance Tax in Oklahoma
March 14th, 2010 |
When a loved one passes away in Oklahoma, unfortunately it’s often not simply a case of organizing a funeral and then getting on in peace with the grieving process. There are often many complex financial issues to deal with such as inheritance tax, financial planning, probate and estate conservation. This is especially true when your loved one failed to do any financial planning. Here we’re going to look at Inheritance Tax in Oklahoma State and who you can go to, to get assistance with it.
What is Inheritance Tax?
An estate tax or death duty is a tax on the estate, or total value of the money and property of a person who has passed away. In some jurisdictions like Tulsa or Oklahoma, such taxes were previously known as inheritance taxes. The inheritance tax in the US is implemented by federal laws and collected by state revenue bodies. Unlike other states, the Oklahoma estate tax does not follow federal estate tax laws.
Oklahoma State Inheritance Tax Laws
An estate or inheritance tax depends on the amount of money or property inherited by the beneficiary or heir when someone dies and their relationship to the deceased person. Some countries define an estate tax as the assessment of the total gross value of the estate. According to Oklahoma laws, estate tax returns in Tulsa and elsewhere in Oklahoma must be filed within nine months of the property owner’s death. The Oklahoma estate tax return cannot be calculated from the Federal schedules because the process is independent of federal laws. Therefore, it’s possible to pay estate tax on a state level and no federal inheritance tax.
Oklahoma Estate Tax Rates and Exemptions
Oklahoma estate/inheritance tax exemptions and rates depend on the beneficiary or heir. For example, the deceased’s family member may be taxed at a lower rate (usually 4.5% tax is imposed on any inheritance) than a friend (10% or even 20%). If the person who has received the property is a spouse or charity, it’s possible that inheritance tax may not be applied at all. Also, inheritance tax on property transfers between siblings is lower (12%) than the tax applied to nieces and nephews (15%). If the deceased person is under 21 years of age, there is no tax due on assets that pass to the parents.
Seek Out Estate Tax Help
When someone dies in Oklahoma their estate can only be released after the completion of Form 454. Form 454 is a 35 page document that must be filed within 9 months of the decedant’s death. Within it’s 35 pages are included the following tax schedules:
- A-1: Real Estate
- A-2: Oil, Gas, and Mineral
- B: Stocks and Bonds
- C-1: Intangible Personal Property
- C-2: Tangible Personal Property and Miscellaneous Property
- D: Life Insurance
- E: Transfer During Lifetime
- F: Property Not Taxable in Oklahoma
- G: Debts, Mortgages, and Taxes Due and Unpaid at Death
- H-1: Administration and Funeral Expenses
- H-2: Bequests: Charitable, Religious, and Educational
- I-1: Property Passing to Surviving Spouse
- I-2: Part 2 of Schedule I-1
- J: Distribution
Oklahoma provides tax exemptions for lineal heirs. From 1999 to 2010 the exemption applied to estates less $175,000 (1999) to $3,000,000 (2010). Clearly Oklahoma’s estate tax is a complicated tax best handled by a professional.
Tracy Rice writes article for Estate-and-Probate.com. The site is devoted to providing families with the help and resources they need in the days and weeks after a loved one’s death. Estate taxes are tricky and best handled by professionals.
Please follow these links for more information on Oklahoma Estate Taxes or Oklahoma Financial Planning.
