Tool · Estate tax calculator

Estimate your federal & state estate tax

Enter an estate value and state to estimate combined federal and state estate-tax liability and probate costs, using the permanent $15M federal exemption.

Data updated 2026-05-15

$15M
Federal exemption (permanent, 2026)
40%
Federal top rate
13
States with their own estate tax
51
States + DC covered

According to the Internal Revenue Service Statistics of Income, federal estate tax applies only above the exemption, which the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made a permanent $15,000,000 per person effective 2026 (signed July 4, 2025), with a top rate of 40% on the amount above it. This calculator adds your state's own estate tax where one applies, 13 states plus DC levy one per the Tax Foundation survey (current as of May 2026), several starting below $1,000,000, plus an estimate of probate cost. See our methodology for the data sources and the formulas used.

What determines your bill

Three things drive an estate's tax: whether it exceeds the permanent $15M federal exemption, whether your state levies its own (often far lower) estate tax, and your state's probate cost.

$15M
Federal exemption, below it, no federal tax
40%
Federal top rate, above the exemption
13
States with their own estate tax
6
States with an inheritance tax (paid by heirs)

Most estates owe no federal estate tax, your state and your probate costs are usually the bigger variables.

Calculate Your Estimated Estate Tax

$

Include all assets: real estate, investments, retirement accounts, life insurance, business interests

The 2026 "sunset" was repealed

The TCJA exemption was scheduled to drop to roughly $7M after 2025, but the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (July 2025) repealed that sunset and set a permanent $15,000,000 exemption ($30M per couple), effective 2026 and indexed for inflation.

Learn more →

Calculator Notes

  • Estimates use top marginal rate, not graduated brackets, actual liability may be lower
  • Marital deduction: spouses can inherit unlimited assets tax-free
  • Portability: married couples may transfer unused exemption to surviving spouse (federal only)
  • Annual gift exclusion ($18,000/person, inflation-adjusted periodically) reduces taxable estate over time
  • Trusts (GRAT, SLAT, ILIT) can significantly reduce estate tax

Common Strategies

  • Annual Gifts - $18K/person/year reduces estate
  • 529 Plans - 5-year gift election up to $90K
  • Irrevocable Trusts - Remove assets from estate
  • Charitable Giving - Unlimited deduction
  • GRATs - Transfer appreciation tax-free
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only and is not tax or legal advice. Estate tax calculations involve complex rules, deductions, and planning opportunities not captured here. Consult a qualified estate planning attorney and CPA before making any estate planning decisions.

Every figure on PlainEstate is rendered directly from IRS Statistics of Income and state statutory data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on IRS Statistics of Income and state statutory data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of May 2026.