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Estate Tax Calculator

Estimate US federal estate tax for deaths in 2026, with the $15 million exclusion.

About the Estate Tax Calculator

Estates of people dying in 2026 can pass $15,000,000 free of federal estate tax, a figure the One Big Beautiful Bill Act made permanent and indexes for inflation from 2027. Above it the rate is 40%. Married couples can carry over a late spouse's unused exclusion (portability). Several states have their own estate or inheritance taxes with much lower thresholds.

The formula

Tax = 40% × (taxable estate + lifetime taxable gifts − exclusion)

Worked example

Example: Federal estate tax = $1,560,000

  1. Inputs: Gross estate: $20,000,000; Debts, expenses and charitable/spousal bequests: $1,100,000; Lifetime taxable gifts already made: $0; Unused exclusion from a late spouse (DSUE): None.
  2. Formula: Tax = 40% × (taxable estate + lifetime taxable gifts − exclusion)
  3. Result: Federal estate tax = $1,560,000
  4. Taxable estate + gifts: $18,900,000
  5. Exclusion: $15,000,000

Questions people ask

Is money left to a spouse taxed?

No; the unlimited marital deduction covers transfers to a US-citizen spouse.

What gifts count?

Gifts above the $19,000 annual exclusion per recipient (2026) use up the lifetime exclusion.

Sources