US Tax Tools

Estate Tax Calculator

Estimate federal estate tax for 2026, 2025, or 2024. OBBBA (signed July 2025) made the $15M per-person exemption permanent from 2026 onward. Enter your estate value, deductions, and prior gifts to see if your estate exceeds the exemption and what tax may be owed.

01INPUTS
Estate Tax Calculator
No estate tax owed. Your estate is within the $15,000,000 federal exemption.
Also planning gifts?Gift Tax Calculator
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Estate Tax Results

Estimated Estate Tax

$0

Estate is within the $15,000,000 exemption

DetailAmount
Gross Estate$5,000,000
Total Deductions-$150,000
Taxable Estate$4,850,000
Exemption (2026)$15,000,000
Exemption Remaining$10,150,000
Net Estate Tax$0
03BREAKDOWN

Taxable Estate

$4,850,000

Estate Tax

$0

Effective Rate

0.00%

The federal estate tax exemption is $15,000,000 for 2026, unified with the lifetime gift tax exemption. OBBBA (signed July 2025) made the $15M per-person base permanent starting 2026, indexed for inflation thereafter — the previously scheduled 2026 sunset no longer applies. Consult an estate planning attorney for state estate tax exposure and planning around portability, ILITs, and GRATs.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the federal estate tax exemption?

The federal estate tax exemption is $15 million per person for 2026 (OBBBA made the $15M base permanent starting 2026, indexed thereafter), $13.99 million for 2025, and $13.61 million for 2024. Estates below this amount owe no federal estate tax. Married couples can effectively double the exemption through portability — $30M combined in 2026.

What is the unlimited marital deduction?

You can leave an unlimited amount to a surviving spouse who is a U.S. citizen without triggering estate tax. This effectively defers estate tax until the surviving spouse passes away. Non-citizen spouses can receive assets through a Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT).

How do prior gifts affect estate tax?

The estate tax and gift tax share a unified exemption. Any taxable gifts made during your lifetime (above the annual exclusion) reduce the estate tax exemption available at death. The tax is calculated on the combined total of your taxable estate plus prior taxable gifts.

Do states have their own estate tax?

Yes, some states impose their own estate or inheritance taxes with much lower exemption thresholds. States with estate taxes include Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and DC. Exemptions range from $1 million to $7.1 million.

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Last updated May 1, 2026 Tax year 2025-26

Data sources: IRS (irs.gov), Social Security Administration

This tool is general information only, not financial advice.

Reviewed by USTax Tools Editorial Desk

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