Estate
Estate taxes explained
Quick answerFor 2026 the federal basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000 per person, so most estates owe no federal estate tax. About a dozen states and D.C. have their own estate tax, and a few have an inheritance tax.
- The basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000 for calendar year 2026 (Public Law 119-21). Source: IRS – What’s new, Estate and gift tax, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- A surviving spouse may add the deceased spouse’s unused exclusion if a timely Form 706 portability election was made. Source: IRS – Instructions for Form 709 (2026), checked Oct 29, 2026.
Our pilot states
| State | Estate/inheritance tax |
|---|---|
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire has no estate tax and no inheritance tax in effect. |
| California | California has no state estate tax or inheritance tax. |
| Texas | Texas has no state estate tax or inheritance tax. |
| Florida | Florida has no state estate tax or inheritance tax. |
| Ohio | Ohio’s estate tax does not apply to people who died on or after January 1, 2013. |
A full 50-state table will be added after each state is checked against its revenue department.
Compare estate taxes between two states · Estate taxes on a $1 million estate
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