Estate Tax Calculator · Practical guide
Federal Estate Tax Exemption 2026
This calculator uses a simplified 2026 exemption of $13.99 million per person — only the value above it is subject to federal estate tax.
At a glance
The 2026 Exemption Amount
The federal estate tax exemption for 2026 is $13.99 million per person. An estate owes federal tax only on the portion of its taxable value that exceeds this threshold, which means the vast majority of estates owe nothing at all. Married couples can effectively shelter about $27.98 million combined when both spouses' exemptions are used.
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What Happens Above the Exemption
The amount over $13.99 million is taxed under a graduated rate schedule that starts at 18% and climbs to a top rate of 40% on amounts over $1 million of taxable excess. Because of the brackets, the effective rate on the whole estate is far lower than the headline 40%.
| Gross Estate (no deductions) | Amount Over Exemption | Federal Estate Tax | Effective Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| $14,000,000 | $10,000 | $1,800 | 0.01% |
| $15,000,000 | $1,010,000 | $344,800 | 2.30% |
| $20,000,000 | $6,010,000 | $2,344,800 | 11.72% |
| $25,000,000 | $11,010,000 | $4,344,800 | 17.38% |
Deductions Come First
Before the exemption is applied, the gross estate is reduced by debts, funeral expenses, charitable bequests, and the unlimited marital deduction for assets passing to a surviving spouse. A $15 million estate with $1.5 million in deductions has a taxable estate of $13.5 million — below the exemption, so no federal tax is due.
State Taxes Are Separate
About a dozen states levy their own estate or inheritance taxes, often with much lower thresholds — some begin at $1-2 million. This calculator estimates the federal tax only; check your state's rules separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the exemption apply per person or per estate?
Per person. Each individual gets a $13.99 million exemption in 2026, and a surviving spouse can generally use any unused portion of a deceased spouse's exemption through portability.
What is the top federal estate tax rate in 2026?
40%, applied to the taxable amount exceeding the exemption by more than $1 million. Lower portions of the excess are taxed at graduated rates starting at 18%.
Do gifts count against the estate tax exemption?
Yes. The lifetime gift tax exemption and the estate tax exemption are unified, so large taxable gifts made during life reduce the exemption available at death. Annual gifts up to the annual exclusion amount do not count.
Could the exemption change after 2026?
Exemption amounts are set by Congress and have changed several times. It is adjusted for inflation in current law, but future legislation could raise or lower it.