450.12  Liabilities deductible.
  1.  Subject to the limitations in subsections 2 and 3, there shall be deducted from the gross value of the estate only the liabilities defined as follows:
  a.  The debts owing by the decedent at the time of death, the local and state taxes accrued before the decedent’s death, the federal estate tax and federal taxes owing by the decedent, a reasonable sum for funeral expenses, the allowance for surviving spouse and minor children granted by the probate court or its judge, court costs, and any other administration expenses allowable pursuant to section 2053 of the Internal Revenue Code.
  b.  A liability shall not be deducted unless the personal representative or other person filing the inheritance tax return as provided in section 450.22 certifies that it has been paid or, if not paid, the director of revenue is satisfied that it will be paid. If the amount of liabilities deductible under this section exceeds the amount of property subject to the payment of the liabilities, the excess shall be deducted from other property included in the gross estate on a prorated basis that the gross value of each item of other property bears to the total gross value of all the other property. Subject to the previous provision, a liability is deductible whether or not the liability is legally enforceable against the decedent’s estate.
  2.  If the decedent’s gross estate includes property with a situs outside of Iowa, the liabilities deductible under subsection 1 shall be prorated on the basis that the gross value of property with a situs in Iowa bears to the total gross estate. Only the Iowa portion of the liabilities shall be deductible in computing the tax imposed by this chapter. However, a liability secured by a lien on property shall be allocated to the state where the property has a situs and shall not be prorated except to the extent the liability exceeds the value of the property.
  3.  If a liability under subsection 1 is secured by property, or a portion of property, not included in the decedent’s gross estate, only that portion of the liability attributable to property or a portion of property included in the decedent’s gross estate is deductible in computing the tax imposed by this chapter.
83 Acts, ch 177, §6, 38; 90 Acts, ch 1232, §21; 94 Acts, ch 1165, §32, 49; 95 Acts, ch 63, §2; 2003 Acts, ch 145, §286