Inheritance Tax Emerges as Pennsylvania’s Most Hated Levy, New Poll Finds

PENNSYLVANIA — A sweeping new survey has found that no tax infuriates Pennsylvanians more than the bill that arrives after a loved one dies, placing the state’s inheritance tax at the top of a list of the most despised government levies in the Commonwealth.

The poll, commissioned by 5StarLoans.com and conducted among more than 3,000 Americans, including 3,022 respondents in Pennsylvania, set out to identify which taxes provoke the strongest backlash in each state. In Pennsylvania, the result was clear: inheritance tax ranked first, ahead of property taxes and vehicle registration fees.

Under current law, Pennsylvania taxes inheritances at rates ranging from 4.5 percent to 15 percent depending on the recipient’s relationship to the deceased. While surviving spouses are exempt, children, siblings and more distant relatives can face significant tax bills when property or assets are passed down.

For many respondents, the issue was not only financial but emotional, reflecting a belief that a family legacy should not come with a government invoice. The tax has long been controversial, particularly as many other states have eliminated similar levies.

Property tax placed second in the ranking, reflecting widespread frustration with what many homeowners view as a permanent and growing obligation, even after a mortgage is paid off. Vehicle registration fees ranked third, with respondents describing them as a recurring charge that feels disconnected from actual vehicle ownership.

Beyond taxes, the survey also offered a snapshot of how Americans feel about debt, credit and financial security.

When asked about their first emotion when considering a loan, 54 percent of respondents said stress, far outpacing all other reactions. Thirteen percent said hope, 10 percent said relief and 11 percent said shame, suggesting that borrowing remains emotionally loaded even as credit has become a routine part of modern life.

Credit scores also emerged as a major point of frustration. Thirty-two percent of respondents said negative marks should disappear more quickly, while 27 percent said on-time rent and utility payments should carry more weight. Another 21 percent called for a free and transparent system, and 20 percent said medical debt should be removed from credit reports altogether.

Nearly half of respondents, 48 percent, said their biggest financial regret was not saving earlier. Credit card debt followed at 29 percent, with smaller shares pointing to missed loan payments or co-signing for someone else.

That reluctance to take on others’ financial risk was reflected in another finding: 77 percent of respondents said they would not co-sign a loan for a friend, while just 23 percent said they would.

Housing costs remain the largest day-to-day financial pressure, the survey found. Thirty-one percent of respondents said rent or mortgage payments were their biggest source of stress, followed by credit card debt at 24 percent and taxes at 22 percent. Medical bills and personal loans rounded out the list.

“Every state’s top-hated tax tells you something about what its people value,” said Bryan Solis, head of sales and strategic partnerships at 5 Star Car Title Loans. “For some, it’s the dream of owning a home. For others, it’s the freedom to spend without penalty. Taxes hit a nerve because they touch our sense of fairness as much as our finances.”

The survey was commissioned by 5StarLoans.com and conducted among 3,044 respondents nationwide to gauge public attitudes toward taxation, credit and personal finance.

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