Dauphin County Register of Wills: Where to File and Pay PA Inheritance Tax

Figures verified November 11, 2026 against Dauphin County: Register of Wills · Update log

Short answer

If the person who died lived in Dauphin County, the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return (REV-1500) and the tax payment go to the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, Dauphin County Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Room 103, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Phone: (717) 780-6500.

Make the check payable to "Register of Wills, Agent". The tax is due 9 months after the death, and tax paid within 3 months gets a 5% discount.

Do it yourself, correctly

PA Inheritance Tax Return (REV-1500) Workbook

Pay within 3 months and Pennsylvania takes 5% off the tax. On $300,000 left to adult children that saves $675; left to a brother or sister, $1,800. The workbook is $49.

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Walk through every REV-1500 schedule, work out each heir's tax, and pay within 3 months to keep the 5% discount.

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40-page workbook
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Where every asset goes: an "I have X, so it goes on Schedule Y" table
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A fully filled-in sample return and a calculator spreadsheet

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Office address, phone and hours

Office	Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court
Address	Dauphin County Courthouse101 Market Street, Room 103Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone	(717) 780-6500
Hours	8 am to 4:30 pm. Transactions involving payment must be completed by 4:00 pm.

These details come from Dauphin County's own website. Offices change hours and rooms, so call before you travel.

How to pay inheritance tax in Dauphin County

Check or money order is accepted for inheritance tax.
The office does not accept cash.
Credit cards are accepted for county fees, such as marriage licenses. The county does not list them for inheritance tax.

You do not pay the Department of Revenue directly. The Register of Wills takes the payment as its agent, gives you a receipt, and sends the money to Harrisburg. Keep the receipt: the REV-1500 asks for the receipt number of each earlier payment.

Filing the REV-1500 here

The Register of Wills acts as agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue for the collection of inheritance tax.
Appointments are required for certain in-person services, so call before you go.
The state instructions ask for the return in duplicate, with a copy of the will if there is one, and only the schedules that apply to the estate.

The office accepts the return and the payment. It does not fill in the return or work out the tax. For that, see the REV-1500 guide, the pages on Schedule F (joint property) and Schedule G (gifts, IRAs and POD accounts), or ask for a quote from a preparer below.

Deadlines and the 5% discount

3 months after the death: the last day to pay and get the 5% discount. You can prepay before the return is ready. Give the Register, in writing, the person's full name, date of death and Social Security number.
9 months after the death: the return and the tax are due. Interest runs on unpaid tax from the next day.

The Pennsylvania inheritance tax calculator gives both dates and each heir's amount from the date of death.

Optional: get help filing

Get a flat-fee quote to file the Pennsylvania inheritance tax return

Leave your email and the rough estate size, and a CPA or Enrolled Agent who prepares Pennsylvania REV-1500 returns will reply with a fixed price. Free, and no obligation.

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Month of death

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We pass your request to an independent CPA or Enrolled Agent who prepares these returns. We may be paid a referral fee by the professional; it never changes the price you are quoted. This is not legal or tax advice.

Other counties

Frequently asked questions

Where do I pay Pennsylvania inheritance tax in Dauphin County?

At the Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans' Court, Dauphin County Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Room 103, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Phone: (717) 780-6500. This is the office for people who lived in Dauphin County when they died.

Who do I make the inheritance tax check out to?

"Register of Wills, Agent". The Register of Wills collects the tax as agent for the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

Can I pay inheritance tax by credit card in Dauphin County?

Dauphin County lists check or money order for inheritance tax. It lists credit cards for county fees only, and it does not accept cash.

The heir lives in another county. Do we still file in Dauphin County?

Yes, if the person who died lived in Dauphin County. The return and the payment go to the Register of Wills of the county where the person lived at death, wherever the heirs or the executor live.

Can I pay before the return is ready?

Yes. A prepayment can be made at the Register of Wills before the REV-1500 is filed. Give the Register, in writing, the person's full name, date of death and Social Security number with the payment. Tax paid within three months of the death gets the 5% discount.

Sources

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.