Estate Tax Calculator
Estimate your potential state estate tax based on your estate's value and your state.
⚠️ This is a rough educational estimate only, not legal or tax advice. Estate tax law is complex and depends on your specific situation — consult an estate planning attorney or tax professional.
Does my state have an estate tax?
Most US states do not have their own estate tax. Only a minority of states — roughly a dozen, including states like Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington — currently impose one (these lists change over time, so always confirm with your state). Separately, a handful of states (such as Iowa, which is phasing its version out, Kentucky, Nebraska, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland) impose an inheritance tax instead, which is a different tax paid by the people who inherit rather than by the estate itself. Many states have neither tax at all.
How does the federal estate tax fit in?
There is also a federal estate tax, but it only applies above a very high exemption amount (several million dollars per person, adjusted periodically), so it rarely affects most estates. State estate taxes, where they exist, often kick in at much lower thresholds than the federal exemption — which is why a smaller estate can sometimes owe state estate tax while owing nothing federally.
How is this estimate calculated?
This calculator uses a simplified flat-rate model: if your state has an estate tax, we take your estate value minus that state's approximate exemption threshold (the amount left is the "taxable amount"), then apply an approximate top marginal rate to that excess. In reality, most states with an estate tax use graduated brackets (lower rates on the first dollars above the exemption, higher rates further up), so actual tax owed is typically somewhat lower than this simplified flat-rate estimate suggests. Treat this tool as a rough starting point, not a precise calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do most states have an estate tax?
No. Most US states have neither an estate tax nor an inheritance tax. Only around a dozen states currently levy their own estate tax, and a smaller number levy an inheritance tax instead. Check your specific state, since these lists can change as state legislatures act.
What's the difference between estate tax and inheritance tax?
Estate tax is paid by the estate itself, based on the total value of what the deceased person owned, before assets are distributed. Inheritance tax is paid by the person receiving the inheritance, and the rate can depend on their relationship to the deceased. A state can have one, both, or neither.
What is the federal estate tax exemption?
The federal estate tax exemption is set at several million dollars per person and is adjusted periodically, so it only affects a very small share of estates. Because the exemption is so high, most people never owe federal estate tax, even though a state estate tax with a lower threshold might still apply.
How is state estate tax calculated?
States that levy an estate tax typically apply graduated rates to the portion of an estate's value above that state's exemption threshold. This calculator simplifies that into a single approximate top rate applied to the excess amount, which gives a rough estimate that may run higher than a real graduated-bracket calculation.
Is this estate tax estimate legal or tax advice?
No. This is a rough educational estimate only, not legal or tax advice. Estate tax law is complex and depends on your specific situation — consult an estate planning attorney or tax professional before making any decisions.
Can I reduce estate tax exposure?
Common estate planning strategies include lifetime gifting, trusts, and marital deductions, but the best approach depends heavily on your assets, family situation, and state of residence. An estate planning attorney or tax professional can help design a strategy specific to your circumstances.