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Home→Tools→Death Tax Calculator

How Much Are Death Taxes?

Estimate federal estate tax, state estate tax, and inheritance tax for an estate or trust. See which taxes apply in your state and how much beneficiaries may owe.

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Mortgages, loans, funeral costs, administration

Calculate Death Taxes

Select your state, enter an estate value, and indicate marital status to see federal and state death tax estimates.

Quick examples:
West Dakota: $999,999 (99.9%)East Montana: $888,888 (88.8%)

This calculator provides general information about estate and inheritance taxes and is not legal or tax advice. Estate tax laws are complex and subject to change. Consult a licensed attorney or tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.

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Instant Estimates

Instant Estimates

Get federal and state death tax estimates calculated in seconds.

State-Specific Data

State-Specific Data

Covers all 12 estate tax states, 5 inheritance tax states, plus federal tax.

Beneficiary Analysis

Beneficiary Analysis

See how inheritance tax varies by beneficiary relationship in applicable states.

Completely Free

Completely Free

No account required. No email. Just enter the estate value and get your estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

The federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per person in 2026, permanently set by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L. 119-21). Married couples can effectively shield $30 million using portability. Estates below this threshold are not subject to federal estate tax. The exemption is indexed to inflation for future years.

Estate tax is paid by the estate itself before assets are distributed to heirs. It is based on the total estate value. Inheritance tax is paid by individual beneficiaries on what they receive, with rates varying by their relationship to the deceased. Some states have estate tax, some have inheritance tax, and Maryland has both.

Twelve states plus Washington DC have estate taxes: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. Exemptions range from $1 million (Oregon, Massachusetts) to $13.61 million (Connecticut). Most have progressive rates up to 12-20%.

Five states have inheritance taxes: Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Iowa repealed its inheritance tax effective 2025. Rates and exemptions vary by beneficiary relationship, with spouses typically fully exempt and distant relatives or unrelated beneficiaries paying the highest rates.

Yes, several strategies can reduce death taxes: lifetime gifts using the annual exclusion ($18,000 per recipient in 2024), charitable bequests (fully deductible), marital deduction for spouses, generation-skipping trusts, and qualified personal residence trusts. Consult an estate planning attorney for strategies appropriate to your situation.

The unlimited marital deduction allows spouses to inherit any amount from each other without paying estate or inheritance tax (in most states). This applies to both federal estate tax and state death taxes. However, this only defers taxes until the surviving spouse dies, when their estate may owe tax on the combined assets.

What Are Death Taxes?

Death taxes include both estate taxes and inheritance taxes. While often used interchangeably, they work differently: estate tax is paid by the estate before distribution, while inheritance tax is paid by beneficiaries on what they receive.

The federal estate tax applies to estates exceeding $15 million (2026), with a top rate of 40%. Only about 0.1% of estates owe federal estate tax. Surviving spouses can inherit unlimited amounts tax-free through the marital deduction.

Twelve states plus Washington DC impose their own estate taxes, often with much lower exemptions than the federal level. Five states impose inheritance taxes based on beneficiary relationships, with closer relatives (spouses, children) often exempt.

Maryland is unique in having both an estate tax and an inheritance tax. Proper estate planning, including trusts and lifetime giving strategies, can significantly reduce or eliminate death tax liability.

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