Our mother died and we (her three sons) received approximately $20,000 each after the estate was settled. Do I have to claim this as income and pay taxes on it?

You need to tell us what state and country you reside... we have english speaking members from a number of countries (that have their own Dollar as well). And no 1 answer applies to all.

North Carolina - USA

I don't remember the exact amount that you have to pay tax on if it goes over a certain amount, I think it might be around 16k. But maybe it's 20k, they may have raised the amount. I would google (http://www.google.com/) for a result.

There is no inheritance taxes on the federal or state level. Any taxes due on the inheritance is paid by the estate. So whatever was paid out should have been after any taxes due and therefore you need not claim it.

Scott:

Do not get your terms mixed up.

The estate pays ESTATE taxes.

The heirs pay inheritance taxes, which treats the inheritance as income. And, yes, some states DO have inheritance taxes.