Estate Tax Calculator
Estimate the federal estate tax owed on a US estate, accounting for the lifetime exemption and the 40% top rate.
How to use the Estate Tax Calculator
- Enter your inputs into the Estate Tax Calculator above.
- Results update instantly as you type — no submit button needed.
- Adjust any value to see how the result changes in real time.
The federal estate tax math
Tax = max(0, (Gross estate − exclusions − exemption) × 40%)
The 2026 lifetime estate and gift tax exemption is $13.61M per person ($27.22M for married couples using portability). Amounts above the exemption are taxed at rates that quickly reach the 40% top rate.
Worked example
An estate of $20M with no prior gifts and full exemption available: taxable = $20M − $13.61M = $6.39M. Federal estate tax owed ≈ $2.56M (40%). A married couple using both exemptions could pass the same estate tax-free.
Frequently asked questions
What is portability?
A surviving spouse can use any unused estate tax exemption from a deceased spouse, effectively doubling the exemption for a married couple. Must be claimed on a timely-filed estate tax return.
Do states have their own estate taxes?
Yes, about a dozen states levy estate or inheritance tax with much lower exemptions (Oregon and Massachusetts start at $1M). Several states have repealed theirs in recent years.
What is the unified credit?
The unified credit combines the gift tax and estate tax exemption into one lifetime amount. Lifetime gifts above the annual exclusion reduce the estate tax exemption available at death.