Case Name: Mary Jane Hess, in her own right, and as Executrix of the Last Will and Testament of Christopher J. Hess, Deceased, v. State of Illinois
Court: Illinois Court of Claims
Jurisdiction: Illinois
Decision Date: 1914-12-17
Citations: 2 Ill. Ct. Cl. 321
Docket Number: 
Parties: Mary Jane Hess, in her own right, and as Executrix of the Last Will and Testament of Christopher J. Hess, Deceased, v. State of Illinois.
Judges: 
Reporter: Illinois Court of Claims Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 321–322

Head Matter:
Mary Jane Hess, in her own right, and as Executrix of the Last Will and Testament of Christopher J. Hess, Deceased, v. State of Illinois.
Opinion filed December 17, 1914.
1. Inheritance Tax — exemptions should be deducted in determining tax rate. The inheritance tax appraiser appointed by the county court of Cook County fixed the value of the property at $105,010.91. An exemption of $20,000.00 was allowed and the tax fixed on a two per cent basis. Within six months the tax was paid under protest, saving five per cent. On appeal to the county court, the court reduced the tax in accordance with the holding in People v. Ullmann, 263 Ill., 528. Held, an award should be made.
2. Practice — claims filed subsequent to May 1. Where a claim is filed subsequent to May 1, and addressed to the following session of Court, the Court will hear the same, if the Attorney General consents to such hearing.
3. Interest — State does not pay. The State is not chargeable with interest upon moneys erroneously paid into the State treasury.
Hoag and UUmann, for Claimant.
P. J. Lucey, Attorney General, and Arthur R. Roy, Assistant Attorney General, for State.

Opinion:
Christopher J. Hess, a resident of Cook County, died on March 29, 1913, testate, devising and bequeathing all his property to his widow, the claimant herein.
His will was probated in the probate court of Cook County on April 21, 1913, and letters testamentary were issued to claimant.
The inheritance tax appraiser appointed by the county judge of Cook County fixed the value of the property at $105,010.91. After allowance of statutory exemption, the tax was fixed by the county judge at $1,700.22, being figured on a two per cent basis. To save five per cent on payment within six months, as provided by statute, this amount, less five per cent, was paid under protest to the county treasurer, who in turn transmitted the money to the State Treasurer. The amount paid was $1,615.21. An appeal was taken to the county court of Cook County, which court on August 21, 1914, entered an order fixing the tax at $850.00, in accordance with the opinion in the case of In re Estate of Frederic Ullmann, deceased, 263 Ill., 528.
Claimant contends that she should be allowed in this Court, one-half the amount paid by her to the county treasurer. Demands were made upon both the county treasurer and State Treasurer by claimant, and this claim was filed by stipulation with the Attorney General since the first of May, 1914, but made returnable at this term of Court. Claimant has done all required of her by law to secure a refund, and this Court will consider this case at this term.
For the reason stated in the claim of Elizabeth Ullmann v. State, we will not allow interest on the amount erroneously paid, but claimant is entitled to have returned to her so much of the tax as was erroneously paid, and it is accordingly the judgment of this Court that she be awarded the sum of $807.60.