Idaho stands among the majority of U.S. states that do not impose an inheritance tax on beneficiaries who receive assets from deceased loved ones. This tax-free status for inheritance transfers represents an important consideration for families planning their estates and beneficiaries receiving inherited assets.
What Is the Difference Between Estate Tax and Inheritance Tax?
Understanding the state’s position requires clarity on tax terminology. An estate tax is levied on the total value of a deceased person’s assets before distribution to beneficiaries. An inheritance tax, by contrast, is imposed on beneficiaries based on what they receive and their relationship to the deceased. While Idaho has no inheritance tax, the federal estate tax may still apply to very large estates exceeding federal exemption thresholds.
Consider the Johnson family from Boise, whose grandmother left them a family ranch valued at $800,000. In a state with inheritance tax, distant relatives might face tax rates of 10-15% on their inheritance, potentially requiring them to sell portions of the property to pay the tax bill. In Idaho, all beneficiaries receive their full inheritance without state-level taxation, allowing families to preserve assets like family businesses, farms, or investment properties across generations.
Which States Still Impose Inheritance Taxes?
Currently, only six states maintain inheritance taxes: Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. These states typically structure their taxes based on the beneficiary’s relationship to the deceased, with spouses often exempt and distant relatives facing the highest rates. Idaho’s absence from this list places it in the majority of states that have moved away from inheritance taxation.
When Did Idaho Eliminate Its Estate Tax?
Idaho’s estate tax for deaths expired in 2004, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission. For deaths occurring before January 1, 2005, Idaho had estate tax requirements that applied to larger estates. Since that time, Idaho residents have been subject only to federal estate tax rules, which apply to significantly larger estates than the previous state requirements.
What Federal Tax Considerations Apply in Idaho?
While Idaho imposes no state inheritance tax, federal estate tax rules still apply to very large estates. For 2026, the federal estate tax exemption allows individuals to transfer over $13 million without triggering federal estate tax. Most Idaho families fall well below this threshold, meaning they face neither state inheritance tax nor federal estate tax on transferred assets.
How Does This Impact Estate Planning in Idaho?
Idaho residents can focus their estate planning on asset protection, probate avoidance, and family wealth transfer strategies without the complication of state inheritance tax calculations. This simplification allows families to concentrate on tools like living trusts, beneficiary designations, and other wealth transfer methods that serve their specific goals rather than tax minimization strategies.
Living trusts offer particular advantages in Idaho, as they allow assets to transfer directly to beneficiaries without the time and expense of probate court proceedings. While probate typically costs 3-7% of an estate’s value and takes 1-2 years to complete, a properly funded trust transfers assets immediately upon death.
The absence of inheritance tax in Idaho creates opportunities for straightforward wealth transfer while highlighting the importance of understanding both state and federal tax implications when receiving an inheritance or planning estate distributions.
(Learn More: Read about revocable trusts in Idaho versus Nevada.)
Sources
- Idaho State Tax Commission: Estates and Taxes. Accessed January 2026.
- Idaho State Tax Commission Publication EPB00106. Accessed January 2026.
