Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax on a Joint Bank Account
Figures verified November 11, 2026 against PA Schedule F and instructions (REV-1509) · Update log
Short answer
A joint account with a spouse is not taxed and is not reported. A joint account with anyone else is taxed on the share of the person who died: the balance on the date of death divided by the number of owners. With two owners that is half the balance, taxed at the survivor's rate: 4.5% for a child, 12% for a brother or sister, 15% for others.
If the account was made joint within one year of the death, the full balance is taxed, less $3,000. Pay within three months of the death and the tax is 5% lower.
How much is taxed, by who the other owner is
| Surviving owner | Taxable amount | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Nothing. Not reported. | 0% |
| Child, stepchild, grandchild, parent or grandparent | The share of the person who died | 4.5% |
| Brother or sister | The share of the person who died | 12% |
| Anyone else: niece, nephew, friend, partner | The share of the person who died | 15% |
The share is the balance on the date of death divided by the number of joint owners alive just before the death. Two owners: half. Three owners: one third. A child aged 21 or younger who inherits from a parent pays 0%.
Who deposited the money does not change the share. A parent who put all the money in and added a child "for convenience" still has half of the account taxed, and only half.
The one-year rule
Adding someone to an account shortly before death does not cut the tax. If the account was made joint within one year of the death, the full balance is taxable, and the new owner may claim a $3,000 exclusion. That account is reported on Schedule G, not Schedule F.
This is why the return asks for the date each account was made joint.
Joint account or POD account?
Check how the account is titled, because the two are taxed differently. A joint account belongs to both people during life, so only the share of the person who died is taxed. A payable-on-death (POD) or in-trust-for (ITF) account belongs only to the person who died until the death, so the whole balance is taxed, at the beneficiary's rate, on Schedule G.
Worked example
Maria died on April 6, 2026. She had a savings account with $48,000 in it on that date, held jointly with her son David since 2020.
- Maria's share: $48,000 / 2 owners = $24,000.
- David's rate as her son: 4.5%.
- Tax: $24,000 x 4.5% = $1,080.
- Paid by July 6, 2026 (three months after the death), the 5% discount is $54, so David pays $1,026.
- The last day to file and pay without interest is January 6, 2027 (nine months after the death).
| Same account, different facts | Taxable amount | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| Joint with her son since 2020 (the example) | $24,000 | $1,080 |
| Joint with her sister instead | $24,000 | $2,880 at 12% |
| Joint with a friend instead | $24,000 | $3,600 at 15% |
| Son added eight months before the death | $48,000 - $3,000 = $45,000 | $2,025 at 4.5% |
| Joint with her husband | Nothing | $0 |
Who files and who pays
If there is an executor or administrator, they report the account on Schedule F of the REV-1500 and usually pay the tax with the rest of the estate's tax. They can instead ask for separate billing, so the Department of Revenue sends the tax notice for the account to the surviving owner.
If nobody is appointed, or the executor leaves the account off the return, the surviving owner must file the return and pay. This is common when the joint account is the only thing the person left.
The return and the payment go to the Register of Wills in the county where the person lived. Checks are made payable to "Register of Wills, Agent". See Register of Wills offices by county.
How to report it
- Get the balance on the date of death from the bank, and the date the account was made joint.
- List the surviving owner and the account on Schedule F (or Schedule G if it was made joint in the last year).
- Carry the total to line 6 of the REV-1500 (line 7 for Schedule G).
- File two copies of the REV-1500 with the county Register of Wills within nine months of the death.
Optional: get help filing
Get a flat-fee quote to file the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return
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More on the Pennsylvania return
Frequently asked questions
Is a joint bank account with a child taxed in Pennsylvania?
Yes. The parent's share of the account, which is half with two owners, is taxed at 4.5%. If the child was added within one year of the death, the full balance is taxed, less $3,000.
Is a joint account with a spouse taxed?
No. Property owned jointly by spouses is exempt from Pennsylvania inheritance tax and is not reported on the return.
My name was on my mother's account only to help pay her bills. Do I still owe tax?
Yes. Pennsylvania taxes the share of the person who died, set by the number of owners, whatever the reason the account was made joint. With two owners, half the balance on the date of death is taxed.
Do I have to file a return if the joint account is the only asset?
Yes. A return is required for every person who died with property that may be taxable. If no executor is appointed, the surviving joint owner files the REV-1500 with Schedule F and pays the tax.
When is the tax on a joint account due?
It is due at death and becomes late nine months after it. Interest runs from the day after that. Tax paid within three months of the death gets a 5% discount.
Sources
- 1.PA Department of Revenue: Schedule F with instructions, Jointly Owned Property (REV-1509)pa.gov
- 2.Pennsylvania General Assembly: Tax Reform Code of 1971, Article XXI, Inheritance Tax (sections 2107, 2108, 2142)palegis.us
- 3.PA Department of Revenue: REV-1500 Inheritance Tax Return, Resident Decedent, and instructionspa.gov
- 4.PA Department of Revenue: Schedule G with instructions, Inter-Vivos Transfers and Misc. Non-Probate Property (REV-1510)pa.gov
- 5.PA Department of Revenue: Inheritance Tax (rates, discount, deadline)pa.gov
This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.