What is a 'Tax Rate'. A tax rate is the percentage at which an individual or corporation is taxed. The tax rate is the tax imposed by the federal government and some states based on an individual's taxable income or a corporation's earnings. The United States uses a progressive tax rate system, where the percentage of tax increases as taxable income. Next Up.
Escheat is the reversion of property to a state when that property is lacking claimants or heirs. In the oil & gas industry, the property is usually an unclaimed oil and gas royalty or override payment.
Escheat ensures that property always has a recognized owner, which would be the state or government if no other claimants to ownership exist. Most jurisdictions have their own laws and regulations defining escheat and the circumstances under which it can be invoked.