(a) Any party in interest, including the Commonwealth and the personal representative, not satisfied with the decision of the department upon a protest may appeal from the department to the court within sixty days after receipt of notice of the entry of the decision of the department. When no decision has been rendered by the department within thirty days after the protest has been filed with the department, the court upon petition of any party in interest may direct the department to transmit the entire record to the court. When an appeal is taken from the decision of the department or the court directs the department to transmit the entire record to the court, the court shall either proceed to a determination of the issues protested to the department or suspend the determination until the audit of the account of the personal representative.

(b) If the appeal or removal arises from an assessment of tax where it is contended that the rate of tax which will be applicable when a future interest vests in possession and enjoyment cannot presently be established with certainty, and no compromise has been entered into pursuant to subsection (e) of section 2116,¹ the court after consideration of relevant actuarial factors, valuations and other pertinent circumstances shall determine what portion of the transfer is to become taxed at each of the rates which might be applicable.