County Assessor

History of Indiana Inheritance Tax

The Indiana Legislature voted the Indiana Inheritance Tax into effect on May 1, 1913. This act taxed both collateral relatives (descending ancestors, but not in a direct line) and provided for progressive rates of taxation. A traditionally conservative state, Indiana was the forty-second state to ratify some form of death transfer taxation.

All bank accounts are frozen with the exception of accounts that are titled jointly between husband and wife and non-interest checking accounts. In the case of a bank account where a tax may be due by the joint owner, the County Assessor's Office may hold 20% of the total value of such property until the inheritance tax is satisfied.

Safe Deposit boxes are no longer inventoried by the County Assessor as of July 1st, 1999.