(a) Where no receipt for payment of the taxes, or no receipt of nonliability for taxes has been issued or recorded as provided for in this article, the property constituting the estate of the decedent in this state shall be deemed fully acquitted and discharged of all liability for estate taxes under this article after a lapse of ten years from the date of the filing with the Tax Commissioner of notice of the decedent's death, or after a lapse of ten years from the date of the filing with the Tax Commissioner of an estate tax return, whichever date shall be earlier, unless the Tax Commissioner shall make out and file and have recorded in the office of the clerk of the county wherein any part of the estate of the decedent may be situated in this state, a notice of lien against the property of the estate, specifying the amount or approximate amount of taxes claimed to be due to the state under this article, which notice of lien shall continue said lien in force for an additional period of five years, or until payment is made.

Need help with a review of a will?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In West Virginia Code 11-11-18

  • Commissioner: means the State Tax Commissioner. See West Virginia Code 11-22-1
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Lien: A claim against real or personal property in satisfaction of a debt.
  • nonresident: means a decedent who was a citizen of the United States, but was domiciled outside the State of West Virginia at the time of his or her death. See West Virginia Code 11-11-2
  • notice: means a written notice sent to the last known address of the addressee and shall be effective upon mailing. See West Virginia Code 11-11-2
  • resident: means a decedent who was domiciled in the State of West Virginia at the time of his or her death. See West Virginia Code 11-11-2
  • state: means any state, territory or possession of the United States and the District of Columbia. See West Virginia Code 11-11-2
  • tax: means the tax imposed by this article, and includes any additions to tax, penalties and interest imposed by this article or article ten of this chapter. See West Virginia Code 11-11-2
  • Tax Commissioner: means the Tax Commissioner of the State of West Virginia or his or her delegate. See West Virginia Code 11-11-2
  • this state: means the State of West Virginia. See West Virginia Code 11-11-2

(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this section or this article, no lien for estate taxes under this article shall continue for more than twenty years from the date of death of the decedent, whether the decedent be a resident or a nonresident of this state.