Estate Tax Calculator
Estimate the federal estate tax due on an estate after the federal exemption.
Example
Suppose a gross estate is worth $20,000,000 and the 2024 federal exemption is $13,610,000.
Taxable estate = $20,000,000 - $13,610,000 = $6,390,000. At the 40% top rate, the estimated federal estate tax is 0.40 x $6,390,000 = $2,556,000.00, leaving about $17,444,000.00 to heirs (effective rate 12.78%).
How it works
Enter the gross estate value and choose or edit the federal exemption; the tool subtracts the exemption and applies a flat 40% top rate to the taxable amount. This is a simplified estimate that ignores deductions, credits, and state taxes.
Good to know
The Estate Tax Calculator gives you a quick, ballpark figure for federal estate tax by taking a gross estate value, subtracting an editable federal exemption, and applying a flat top rate (40% by default) to whatever remains. It's aimed at anyone trying to understand roughly how much of a large estate might be exposed to federal tax: people doing back-of-the-envelope estate planning, beneficiaries trying to grasp the scale of a potential liability, or students and curious readers wanting to see how the exemption mechanism works.
You'd typically reach for it when an estate is large enough to be near or above the exemption threshold (around $13.61M per person in 2024), because below that level the calculator will show $0 tax owed. It's also handy for "what-if" comparisons, such as seeing how the result shifts if the exemption falls in a future year or if you combine two spousal exemptions into a single larger number in the exemption field.
To read the output, focus on four numbers it reports alongside the headline tax figure: the taxable estate (gross value minus exemption), the exemption used, the net amount left to heirs after tax, and the effective rate. Note that the effective rate is tax divided by the full gross estate, so it will always be lower than the 40% top rate because the exempt portion is never taxed. The two bars visually split the estate into the portion that passes free versus the portion that is taxable.
One important caveat: this is a deliberately simplified model. It applies one flat rate rather than the graduated brackets used in the real federal calculation, and it ignores the unlimited marital deduction, charitable deductions, lifetime gifts, portability between spouses, and any state-level estate or inheritance taxes. Treat the result as a rough upper-bound estimate for taxable estates, and verify real numbers with a tax professional before acting.
Frequently asked questions
Does this account for the marital deduction or state estate taxes?
No. This is a simplified federal estimate. Assets left to a U.S. citizen spouse or to qualified charities are generally fully deductible and not taxed, and several states impose their own estate or inheritance taxes. Those are not modeled here.
Why is the federal exemption editable?
The federal estate tax exemption changes over time (about $13.61M per person in 2024 and indexed for inflation), and married couples can effectively combine exemptions via portability. You can edit the exemption field to match the year or your situation, including a combined spousal amount.
Is my data uploaded anywhere?
No — this calculator runs entirely in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Is this financial advice?
No. These are educational estimates — consult a qualified financial professional before making decisions.
People also ask
What is the difference between estate tax and inheritance tax?
Estate tax is levied on the value of a deceased person's total estate before assets are distributed, and is paid by the estate itself. Inheritance tax is charged to the individual beneficiaries on what they receive, and only a handful of U.S. states impose it. This calculator estimates federal estate tax only.
At what net worth does federal estate tax start to apply?
Federal estate tax generally applies only to the portion of an estate that exceeds the federal exemption, which was about $13.61 million per person in 2024 and is indexed for inflation. Estates valued below the exemption typically owe no federal estate tax.
What is the top federal estate tax rate?
The top federal estate tax bracket is 40%. In reality it is applied through a graduated schedule, but this tool uses a single flat top rate on the taxable amount for simplicity, which can slightly overstate the tax on amounts just over the exemption.
How does portability work for married couples?
Portability lets a surviving spouse add any unused portion of a deceased spouse's federal estate tax exemption to their own, potentially shielding a larger combined amount. It generally must be elected by filing an estate tax return for the first spouse to die.
Are assets left to a spouse subject to estate tax?
Assets left outright to a U.S. citizen spouse generally qualify for the unlimited marital deduction and are not taxed when the first spouse dies, though they may be taxed in the survivor's estate later. This calculator does not model the marital deduction.
Does the estate tax exemption change each year?
Yes, the federal exemption is adjusted for inflation annually, so the amount differs year to year. It is also subject to legislative change, which is why the exemption field in this tool is editable.
How is the effective estate tax rate calculated here?
The effective rate shown is the estimated tax divided by the full gross estate value, expressed as a percentage. Because the exempt portion is never taxed, the effective rate is always lower than the 40% top rate.
Do gifts made during life affect estate tax?
Yes, in the actual federal system lifetime taxable gifts reduce the exemption available at death because the gift and estate tax exemptions are unified. This simplified calculator does not account for prior gifts.
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