Estate tax calculator
Most estates owe no tax. But 17 states and D.C. have their own estate or inheritance taxes — with exemptions as low as $1 million.
Include everything: home equity, retirement accounts, life insurance death benefit, investments, business interests, personal property.
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How estates reduce tax exposure
- •Marital deduction — Assets passed to a surviving spouse are fully exempt from federal estate tax.
- •Annual gift exclusion — You can give up to $18,000 per person per year (2024) without gift tax. Reduces your taxable estate over time.
- •Irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) — Life insurance held in an ILIT is excluded from your taxable estate.
- •Revocable living trust — Does not reduce estate taxes by itself, but avoids probate and simplifies estate administration.
- •Charitable giving — Gifts to qualified charities reduce the taxable estate dollar-for-dollar.
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Make my will →This calculator provides rough estimates for educational purposes only. It does not account for all deductions, credits, trusts, or planning strategies. Tax laws change frequently. Consult an estate planning attorney or CPA for advice specific to your situation.