Who pays estate tax in 2026?

At the federal level, only estates above $15,000,000 (post-OBBBA with inflation adjustment). That is fewer than 0.2% of all estates. State estate taxes are a bigger concern: 12 states levy an estate tax with exemptions ranging from $1M (Oregon) to $15M (Connecticut, which matches federal). If you live in one of those states, estate planning matters even if your estate is well below the federal threshold.

What is the marital deduction?

Assets passing outright to a surviving U.S. citizen spouse are fully deductible from the gross estate — there is no dollar limit. This defers the estate tax until the surviving spouse's death. For non-citizen spouses, a Qualified Domestic Trust (QDOT) is required to access this deduction. Consult an estate attorney for specifics.

Are the results personalized financial advice?

No. Calculator outputs are educational estimates based on the inputs you enter. Review assumptions and confirm terms directly with providers before making a financial decision.

What should I do after seeing the result?

Use the recommendation module on this page to learn about estate planning, or run Money Map to compare this taxes decision with your other opportunities.

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Related offers are matched by the calculator surface (none) and ranked using SwitchWize data such as rate, fees, trust signals, product fit, and switching friction. Paid relationships do not change organic ranking order.

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The SwitchWize methodology page explains how rate freshness, editorial review, affiliate disclosure, and category ranking factors work.

Can Money Map use this result?

Yes. Money Map is the broader diagnostic path: it compares savings, mortgage, cards, and debt so you can see whether this calculator result is your highest-impact next move.

New

Estate Tax Calculator 2026 — Federal and State Liability

Estimate your federal estate tax liability (2026 exemption $15M post-OBBBA) and applicable state estate or inheritance tax for 15 states. See the net amount heirs receive.

Estate Details

Gross Estate Value

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

Debts and Liabilities

Mortgages, loans, other debts (deductible)

Funeral and Administration Costs

State

Select only states with estate/inheritance taxes

No estate tax owed

Your adjusted gross estate of $9,485,000 is below the 2026 federal exemption of $15,000,000. No estate tax would be owed under current law.

What this estimate does not include

QTIP trusts and other marital deduction elections
GRATs, SLATs, ILITs, FLPs, and other advanced strategies
Portability of a deceased spouse's unused exemption (DSUE)
State-specific tax credits and deductions
IRD (Income in Respect of a Decedent) on retirement accounts

Federal exemption $15,000,000 reflects post-OBBBA extension with inflation adjustment (effectiveYear 2026). State schedules: IRC §§ 2001-2210; state statutes as of 2026. Estimate only — consult a qualified estate attorney and CPA before making planning decisions.

Coach Insight

The federal estate tax affects very few estates in 2026 given the $15M exemption — but 12 states impose their own estate tax with exemptions as low as $1M (Oregon) or $2M (Massachusetts). A Massachusetts resident with a $4M estate owes zero federal estate tax but could owe over $400,000 in state estate tax. This calculator covers both layers so you see your real combined exposure.

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