Texas inheritance and estate tax: Fort Worth records and next steps
Texas repealed its inheritance tax. A Fort Worth family can still have federal return, probate, inherited-income or another-state questions; an old Texas inheritance form is not a current filing checklist.
Sources checked . General information maintained by Fort Worth Tax with AI assistance. We are an independent directory, not a government agency or tax adviser. Verify the instructions for your tax year and circumstances.
Does Texas still impose its inheritance tax?
The Comptroller announced repeal of the Texas inheritance tax effective September 1, 2015. SB 752 repealed the relevant Tax Code chapter. Use that enacted scope rather than older articles that predict a future return of the former federal credit.
The legislation preserves liabilities accruing before its effective date. A historical notice needs its own review; repeal does not justify discarding an old notice without checking the period and issue.
- Check the state repeal
- Read the Comptroller announcement and enacted law. Texas inheritance-tax repeal announcement
- Old liability or effective-date question
- The enrolled bill preserves earlier liabilities. Texas SB 752
Federal returns and another state are separate questions
The IRS distinguishes a decedent’s final individual return, estate-income return and federal estate-tax return. Texas repeal does not decide any of those requirements. Ask which returns are in scope before agreeing to estate tax preparation.
If the estate includes property or administration outside Texas, identify those locations and ask whether another jurisdiction needs review. A Fort Worth beneficiary address is not a complete description of the estate’s filing facts.
- Federal decedent reporting
- Use the current IRS return-type guidance. IRS decedent guidance
Use the relevant county for probate records
Tarrant County’s probate-clerk page links case information, document-copy instructions and court resources. Use it for the appropriate Tarrant matter. Confirm the county first; this directory covers a wider region than one court’s jurisdiction.
Keep appointment documents, the court reference and tax records separately labeled. Ask whether the professional handles probate, tax preparation or both, and confirm representation authority rather than inferring it from a directory category.
- Local case or copy request
- Start with the official clerk’s instructions and current contact route. Tarrant County probate resources
Organize the records before asking for a quote
Prepare a private summary of the task and any notice requiring action. Ask which evidence is needed and arrange secure document exchange before sending an estate file. This directory does not collect tax documents or decide who may act for an estate.
- Date of death, residence, property locations and the person appointed or authorized to act.
- Will/trust and appointment records, asset ownership and date-of-death statements.
- Prior returns, notices and separate proof of filing and payment; flag property or accounts in other states.
- A written division of tax preparation, probate work, valuations and representation, including excluded work and fees.
For a later investment or property sale, use the Texas capital gains tax: Fort Worth sale and filing guide.
Ask a professional about your situation
Ask about this state, the estate’s residence and assets, the required return and any notice. Agree who handles tax preparation, probate, valuation and representation. General directory listings do not verify estate-tax or probate expertise.
Compare professional qualifications and questions to ask. Keep personal tax documents private; this directory does not receive returns, identity documents or portal credentials.
Related guides
Official sources and applicability
- Texas Comptroller: inheritance-tax repeal announcement — Official announcement of repeal effective September 1, 2015; not a current federal threshold table.
Comptroller bulletin issued August 26, 2015. Checked 2026-10-24. - Texas SB 752: enacted repeal — Repeal of Tax Code Chapter 211, preservation of pre-effective-date liabilities and effective date.
Official guidance checked for the applicable task; verify the tax year. Checked 2026-10-24. - Tarrant County probate clerks and court resources — Probate case/record-copy routes, forms and local court resources for Tarrant County.
Official guidance checked for the applicable task; verify the tax year. Checked 2026-10-24. - IRS Topic 356: decedents and estate returns — Final individual, estate-income and federal estate returns are separate filing questions.
Official guidance checked for the applicable task; verify the tax year. Checked 2026-10-24.
Next source review due 2027-01-22, and before promotion for a new tax year. To report an outdated resource, contact the directory without sending personal tax information.