(35 ILCS 405/10) (from Ch. 120, par. 405A-10)

Sec. 10. Liens and Personal Liability.

(a) Lien for Illinois transfer tax. Unless the Illinois transfer tax is sooner paid in full, the Illinois transfer tax shall be a lien in favor of this State upon the transferred property having a tax situs within this State for 10 years from the date of the taxable transfer, or, in the case of Illinois transfer tax subject to deferral or payable in installments, the later of 10 years from the date of the taxable transfer or one year after the last deferred or installment payment may become due. The lien imposed by this Section on the transferred property shall not be valid as against any purchaser, mortgagee, pledgee, or other holder of a security interest for a full and adequate consideration in money or money's worth; provided, however, that any property, consideration or proceeds received as a result of any sale, mortgage, pledge or granting of a security interest shall remain subject to the lien imposed by this Section. In addition, the lien imposed by this Section on the transferred property shall be subject to the exceptions set forth in Section 6324(c)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code as if the lien were a lien imposed by that Section. In no event shall the issuance by the Attorney General of a release of the lien imposed by this subsection be required with respect to the sale, mortgage, pledge, granting of a security interest in, transfer or distribution of transferred property.

(b) Special lien for property valued under Section 2032A of the Internal Revenue Code. In the event the Illinois estate tax is reduced as a result of an election under Section 2032A of the Internal Revenue Code, then an amount equal to the additional Illinois estate tax that would be due in the absence of such an election shall be a lien in favor of this State on the transferred property that has a tax situs in this State and is subject to such election. The lien imposed by this subsection shall arise at the time an election is filed under Section 2032A of the Internal Revenue Code and shall continue with respect to such transferred property:

(1) until the liability for the Illinois estate tax with respect to such transferred property has been satisfied or has become unenforceable by reason of lapse of time or otherwise; or

(2) until it is established to the satisfaction of the Attorney General that no further tax liability may arise under this Act with respect to such transferred property.

The lien imposed by this subsection shall not be valid as against any purchaser, mortgagee, pledgee, other holder of a security interest, mechanic's lien, or judgment lien creditor until notice of such lien has been filed as provided by the laws of this State. In regulations prescribed in accordance with Section 16 of this Act, the Attorney General may require that the qualified heir file such notice of lien. Even though notice of said lien has been filed as provided in the preceding sentence, such lien shall be subject to the rules set forth in paragraph (3) of Section 6324A(d) of the Internal Revenue Code as if the lien were a lien imposed by that Section.

(c) Personal liability. If the Illinois transfer tax is not paid when due, then the person required to file the federal return and the transferee of any transferred property having a tax situs within this State shall be personally liable for the Illinois transfer tax, to the extent of such transferred property originally received, controlled or transferred to that person or transferee, less the amount of any expenses or charges against the transferred property, related to the taxable transfer, which have a higher priority of payment under applicable law than the Illinois transfer tax.

(d) Collection. The Attorney General shall have the right to sue for collection of the Illinois transfer tax for 3 years after the date of the actual filing of the related Illinois transfer tax return with the Attorney General, or, if later, the last date upon which application for refund of the Illinois transfer tax could be filed with the State Treasurer.

(e) Waiver of lien and personal liability. If the Attorney General is satisfied that no liability for Illinois transfer tax exists or that the Illinois transfer tax has been fully discharged or provided for, the Attorney General shall issue a certificate releasing all of the transferred property having a tax situs within the State of Illinois from the lien imposed by this Section. Issuance of such certificate shall discharge the person required to file the Illinois return and any transferee from personal liability for the Illinois transfer tax.

(Source: P.A. 93-30, eff. 6-20-03.)