Issuance of receipts; determination of tax and discharge from personal liability; operation of discharge.

Upon payment of the tax under this act, the department shall issue to the personal representative receipts in triplicate, each of which is sufficient evidence of payment and entitles the personal representative to be credited and allowed that amount by the probate court having jurisdiction. If the personal representative files a complete return and makes a written application to the department for determination of the amount of the tax and discharge from personal liability for the tax, the department as soon as possible, but not later than 1 year after receipt of the application, shall notify the personal representative of the amount of the tax. Upon payment of the tax, the personal representative is discharged from personal liability for any additional tax found to be due and is entitled to receive from the department a receipt in writing showing the discharge. The department shall prepare the discharge of liability receipt in a form recordable by the register of deeds. However, a discharge does not operate to release the gross estate of the lien of any additional tax subsequently found to be due while the title to the gross estate remains in the personal representative or in the heirs, devisees, or distributees. If after a discharge is given the title to any portion of the gross estate has passed to a bona fide purchaser for value, that portion of the gross estate is not subject to a lien or any claim or demand for the tax.