Paul Dibert Retires as "Chief" of PA Inheritance Tax Division

Effective June 30, 2011, J. Paul Dibert retired as the Chief of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue's Inheritance Tax Division.

Paul acted as Chief of the Division since March 24, 2008.  See: PA EE&F Law Blog posting Dibert Appointed Chief of PA Inheritance Tax Division (03/27/08).  He had served as "acting chief" following the retirement of John Murphy on June 15, 2007.  See: PA EE&F Law Blog posting PA Inh Tax Div Chief Murphy Retired (12/04/07) and PBA RPPT Honors Chief John C. Murphy (03/21/2008).

Paul's credentials, as summarized in a 2010 PA DOR Fall Tax Program's Synopses & Topics, noted his skills and accomplishments:

Mr. Dibert is the Chief of the Inheritance Tax Division of the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, Bureau of Individual Taxes.

He received his BS degree in Business Administration from Michigan Technological University, Houghton Michigan in 1968.  After 8 years in private industry, he joined the Department of Revenue as a supervisor in the Altoona District Office.

He transferred to the Inheritance Tax Division in 1984, where he was a Trust Valuation Specialist.  He was appointed Business & Trust Valuation Manager in 1987.

He is on the faculty of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and has participated in presentations at least annually for the last 25 years.  He has participated in presentations sponsored by the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Accountants or the Pennsylvania Society of Public Accountants for the last 16 years.

He is a past member of the Department of Revenue annual statewide, Fall Tax Presentation staff.  He has presented seminars to various estate planning councils and county bar associations across the Commonwealth.

However, to the lawyers and accountants who filed, tracked, or corrected Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Returns for clients (or even appealed the Division's assessments), or who sat as a student in one of his many seminars delivered to professional audiences during his leadership years -- either as Supervisor & Deputy, and then as Chief, of the Division -- Paul represented more than his credentials.  He was a hard worker, a respectful public official, a knowledgeable tutor, a progressive administrator, and a fair assessor.

Vincent B. Lackner, Jr., founder and president of The Lackner Group, Inc., stated respect and admiration for Paul in comments that he relayed prior to that retirement date:

What are we all going to do?! Wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth are the first things that come to mind.

Your common-sense, no-nonsense, even-handed, and fair-minded approach to dealing with issues and people over the years both as Deputy then as Chief has been a delight. Those were big shoes that John Murphy left for you, but you more than filled them.

For me, one of the highlights every fall was attending your PA Inheritance Tax Update at the PBI Estate Law Institute. This past November I also enjoyed the masterful job that you (and the three others) did in the "How to Prepare the Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax Return" seminar here in Pittsburgh.

[We] congratulate you for your extraordinary 30 years of service, thank you for all of your courtesies, and extend to you our warmest wishes as you head into a well-deserved retirement.

Paul, after a job well done, may you enjoy your next challenges, whatever those might be, and also your leisure!