Estate Tax Calculator

Enter your assets — including residence, stocks, savings, retirement accounts, and more — along with your debts and deductions to estimate your federal estate tax liability. The calculator applies the current federal exemption threshold and 40% tax rate so you can see how much of your estate may be subject to tax and how much passes to your heirs. Also try the Income Tax Calculator.

Include the face value of policies owned by the deceased.

Business interests, collectibles, real estate, etc.

Mortgages, loans, credit card balances, etc.

Amounts left to qualified charitable organizations are fully deductible.

Some states have their own estate tax. Enter an estimated amount if known.

Total taxable gifts made above annual exclusions during your lifetime reduce the remaining exemption.

Federal exemption thresholds vary by year. Select the applicable year.

Results

Estimated Federal Estate Tax

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Gross Estate Value

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Total Deductions

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Adjusted Taxable Estate

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Federal Exemption Used

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Amount Subject to Tax

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Estate Passed to Heirs (After Tax)

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the federal estate tax exemption for 2025?

For 2025, the federal estate tax exemption is $13.99 million per individual ($27.98 million for married couples using portability). Estates valued below this threshold owe no federal estate tax. The exemption is indexed for inflation and changes each year. See also our use the Tax Return Estimator.

What is the federal estate tax rate?

Since 2013, the maximum federal estate tax rate has been 40%. This rate applies only to the portion of the taxable estate that exceeds the applicable exemption amount after all deductions are subtracted.

What assets are included in my taxable estate?

Your gross estate includes nearly everything you own at death: real estate, bank and investment accounts, retirement accounts, vehicles, business interests, life insurance proceeds (if you owned the policy), and personal property. Assets are generally valued at fair market value on the date of death.

What deductions reduce my taxable estate?

Key deductions include debts and liabilities (mortgages, loans), funeral and administrative expenses, and unlimited charitable bequests to qualified organizations. There is also an unlimited marital deduction for assets passed to a U.S. citizen spouse, which can defer the tax entirely. You might also find our Tax-Equivalent Yield — Tax Equivalent Yield useful.

How do lifetime gifts affect my estate tax?

The federal gift tax and estate tax share a combined lifetime exemption. Taxable gifts made above the annual exclusion ($18,000 per recipient in 2024–2025) during your lifetime reduce the remaining estate tax exemption available at death. This is why prior taxable gifts are factored into the calculation.

Do all states have an estate tax?

No. Only about a dozen states plus the District of Columbia impose their own estate tax, and their exemptions are often lower than the federal threshold. States like Massachusetts and Oregon have exemptions as low as $1–2 million. State estate taxes are separate from and in addition to any federal estate tax.

What happens to the estate tax exemption after 2025?

Under current law, the increased exemption amounts from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are scheduled to sunset after December 31, 2025. Without new legislation, the exemption could revert to approximately $7 million (inflation-adjusted) in 2026. Tax planning before the sunset can lock in the higher exemption.

How can I reduce my estate tax liability?

Common strategies include making annual gifts up to the exclusion limit, setting up irrevocable life insurance trusts (ILITs), using charitable trusts, establishing family limited partnerships, and making use of the marital deduction. Consulting an estate attorney or financial planner is strongly recommended for estates near or above the exemption threshold.