🏛️ Estate taxes can feel overwhelming — especially when you’re trying to understand how much will actually go to your heirs.
Use our Estate Tax Calculator for the United States to estimate how much of an estate may be subject to federal tax and how much is exempt. 🇺🇸
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🔢 Try the Estate Tax Calculator
How to use:
- Enter items in the estate and value of each
- Click Calculate
- Instantly see how much of the estate is taxable and what tax is due
⚙️ Itemized Estate Tax Calculator (USA)
🙋 What Is Estate Tax?
The federal estate tax is a tax on the transfer of property after someone passes away. It only applies if the value of the estate exceeds a certain threshold (called the exemption).
For 2025, the federal estate tax exemption is projected to be $13,610,000 per individual.
This figure reflects an inflation-adjusted increase from 2024’s exemption of $13,920,000, based on IRS guidance and cost-of-living adjustments.
However:
- Married couples can still double the exemption using portability, making it $27,220,000 in 2025 if properly planned.
- This exemption is set to sunset in 2026 unless Congress acts, reducing it back to approximately $5–6 million per person (adjusted for inflation).
🧮 How Estate Tax Is Calculated
Here’s how it works:
- Determine the total value of the estate
- Subtract the federal exemption ($13.92 million in 2024)
- Tax the remainder at a 40% rate
Example:
- Estate Value = $15,000,000
- Exemption = $13,920,000
- Taxable = $1,080,000
- Tax Due = 40% of $1,080,000 = $432,000
🧾 Key Notes
- Married couples can double the exemption with proper planning (up to $27.84 million)
- States like NY, MA, and WA may also impose state-level estate/inheritance taxes
- Gifting during your lifetime can help reduce estate size
✅ Final Thoughts
This calculator gives a quick estimate, but for exact numbers and legal strategies, it’s always best to consult a tax advisor or estate planning attorney.