The Estate Tax Calculator estimates federal estate tax due. Many states impose their own estate taxes, but they tend to be less than the federal estate tax. This calculator is mainly intended for use by U.S. residents.
• Gross Estate Assets: Enter fair market values for real estate, investment accounts, liquid cash, vehicles, and life insurance proceeds.
• Allowable Deductions: Subtract mortgages, funeral/administration costs, and 100% deductible charitable bequests.
• Unified Lifetime Exemption: Applies statutory exclusion amounts and factors in prior lifetime taxable gifts or spousal portability (DSUE).
Prior taxable lifetime gifts that reduced your unified transfer exclusion.
Taxable excess over exemption: $100,000 @ 40%.
Statutory exemption thresholds and maximum estate tax rates from 2001 to present under federal law.
| Year | Lifetime Exemption Limit | Top Marginal Tax Rate | Key Legislation / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 (Est.) | $14,400,000 | 40% | Inflation-adjusted TCJA |
| 2025 | $13,990,000 | 40% | IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-40 |
| 2024 | $13,610,000 | 40% | IRS Rev. Proc. 2023-34 |
| 2023 | $12,920,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2022 | $12,060,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2021 | $11,700,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2020 | $11,580,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2019 | $11,400,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2018 | $11,180,000 | 40% | TCJA doubled exemption |
| 2017 | $5,490,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2016 | $5,450,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2015 | $5,430,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2014 | $5,340,000 | 40% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2013 | $5,250,000 | 40% | ATRA permanence |
| 2012 | $5,120,000 | 35% | Indexed for inflation |
| 2011 | $5,000,000 | 35% | Indexed for inflation |
The United States federal estate tax (often referred to colloquially as the "death tax") is a levy imposed on the transfer of the taxable estate of a deceased person. It is paid out of the estate's assets before wealth is transferred to beneficiaries.
Federal estate and gift taxes are unified under a single basic exclusion amount ($13.61M in 2024, $13.99M in 2025, and ~$14.4M in 2026). Taxable gifts made during your lifetime reduce your remaining exemption at death dollar-for-dollar.
Transfers between legally married U.S. citizen spouses are 100% tax-free under the unlimited marital deduction. Furthermore, by filing Form 706, the surviving spouse can elect portability (DSUE) to capture any unused exemption of the deceased partner, effectively protecting over $28 million for married couples.
All bequests made to qualifying 501(c)(3) religious, charitable, or educational organizations are 100% deductible from the gross estate with no upper dollar limit. Strategic tools like Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT) and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILIT) help affluent families minimize tax exposure.
Twelve states plus Washington D.C. impose their own estate taxes (e.g. Massachusetts and Oregon with exemptions as low as $1M or $2M), and six states levy inheritance taxes on beneficiaries. State estate taxes paid are deductible from your federal taxable estate.
Compare joint vs single filing taxes to discover your Marriage Bonus or Penalty.
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