Kansas has no state-level estate tax or inheritance tax. The Sunflower State eliminated these taxes years ago, leaving only the federal estate tax to potentially affect residents. This puts the state in the majority of U.S. states that have chosen not to impose their own death taxes on residents.
For most families, the absence of a state estate tax means significant savings when someone passes away. You won’t face additional state-level taxes on inherited assets, regardless of their value. The only estate tax that might apply comes from the federal government, which only affects estates worth more than $15 million in 2026.
Probate laws still require executors to handle tax obligations properly. The state requires that fiduciaries pay all taxes before receiving discharge from their duties. However, these references point to general tax obligations like income taxes and property taxes, not a specific estate tax.
How Does Kansas Handle Estate Administration?
Even without estate taxes, Kansas maintains comprehensive probate procedures. Estates valued at $75,000 or less can use simplified small estate procedures, avoiding full probate entirely. Larger estates go through regular probate, which typically costs 2-4% of the estate value in attorney and executor fees, plus a $206 court filing fee.
Kansas law allows trust modifications specifically for tax planning purposes, though this typically relates to federal tax strategies rather than state estate tax planning. The focus remains on income tax planning and federal estate tax minimization for very wealthy families.
Why Did Kansas Eliminate Its Estate Tax?
Many states eliminated estate taxes to remain competitive and prevent wealthy residents from relocating to tax-friendly states. Kansas joined this trend, recognizing that estate taxes often generated relatively little revenue while creating administrative burdens and potentially driving away high-net-worth residents.
The elimination also simplified estate planning for Kansas families. Without state estate taxes, planning focuses on federal tax strategies, asset protection, and avoiding probate rather than navigating complex state tax calculations.
Understanding the difference between various types of death taxes helps clarify why Kansas residents benefit from this simplified approach. Some states impose inheritance taxes on beneficiaries or estate taxes on the deceased’s assets. However, Kansas keeps things straightforward by imposing neither.
