Estate Tax Calculator
Estimate federal estate tax liability using the 2026 exemption of $15,000,000. Calculate taxable estate after deductions for spouse, charitable giving, and other expenses.
About this calculator
This calculator estimates federal estate tax by subtracting deductions and the 2026 federal exemption ($15,000,000 per person, sourced from lib/reference-data) from your gross estate, then applying a flat 40% rate to what remains. Gross Estate Value dominates every dollar output -- Estimated Estate Tax, Taxable Estate, Net to Heirs, and Effective Tax Rate -- because it's the only input that can push the taxable estate meaningfully past the $15,000,000 exemption; Other Deductions barely moves any of them in comparison, since deductions here are typically a small fraction of a multi-million-dollar estate. The engine simplifies real estate tax law in one specific way: it applies a single flat 40% rate to the entire amount above the exemption, rather than the actual graduated bracket schedule (18% up to 40%) -- the code's own comment notes this is accurate for most large estates since the top 40% rate applies quickly once the exemption is exceeded, but it will overstate tax on an estate only modestly above the exemption.
Charitable Bequests and Bequest to Spouse both reduce the taxable estate dollar for dollar before the exemption is applied, reflecting the unlimited marital deduction and the charitable deduction -- but their real-world effect is capped by the size of the estate itself, since they can't exceed Gross Estate Value. This model doesn't cover generation-skipping transfer tax, portability of a deceased spouse's unused exemption, or state-level estate/inheritance taxes.
Tax Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on general tax rules and may not reflect your specific situation. Tax laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA for advice tailored to your circumstances.
Inputs
Results
Estimated Estate Tax
$0.00
Net to Heirs
$15,000,000.00
≈ 36 average U.S. homes
Figures current as of 2026. Source: Revenue Procedure 2025-32
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the gross value of your estate (all assets including real estate, investments, retirement accounts, and life insurance proceeds).
- Add any deductions (debts, final expenses) and charitable bequests.
- Enter the amount passing to a surviving spouse, which is fully exempt from estate tax.
- Review the estimated estate tax, net inheritance to heirs, effective tax rate, and amount exempt from the $15,000,000 federal exemption (2026).
- Work with an estate planning attorney for strategies to minimize estate tax.
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How the result changes with Gross Estate Value
| Gross Estate Value | Estimated Estate Tax | Net to Heirs |
|---|---|---|
| $50,000,000.00 | $13,960,000.00 | $36,040,000.00 |
| $175,000,000.00 | $63,960,000.00 | $111,040,000.00 |
| $325,000,000.00 | $123,960,000.00 | $201,040,000.00 |
| $450,000,000.00 | $173,960,000.00 | $276,040,000.00 |
What each input means
- Gross Estate Value
- Total value of all assets including property, investments, life insurance, and business interests.
- Other Deductions
- Funeral expenses, debts, administrative costs, and other allowable deductions.
- Charitable Bequests
- Amounts left to qualified charitable organizations (fully deductible).
- Bequest to Spouse
- Unlimited marital deduction for assets passing to a surviving US citizen spouse.
What each result means
- Taxable Estate
- Amount subject to estate tax after exemption.
How this is calculated
Formula
Taxable Estate = Gross Estate - Deductions - Charitable Bequests - Spouse Bequest - Exemption ($15,000,000 for 2026). Estate Tax = Taxable Estate × 40%.Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input Parameters4 parametersGross Estate Value = 15000000, Other Deductions = 100000, Charitable Bequests = 0, Bequest to Spouse = 0 = 4 input(s) provided
- Calculate Estimated Estate TaxEstimated Estate Tax0 = $0
- Calculate Net to HeirsNet to Heirs15000000 = $15,000,000
- Calculate Taxable EstateTaxable Estate0 = $0
- Calculate Effective Tax RateEffective Tax Rate0 = 0%
Figures and sources
- 2026 federal estate tax exemption (2026) — Revenue Procedure 2025-32
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the exemption amount matter so much to my estate tax?
The 2026 exemption ($15,000,000 per person) is subtracted from your adjusted gross estate before the 40% rate applies -- taxableEstate = max(0, adjustedGrossEstate - $15,000,000). An estate at or below the exemption owes no federal estate tax at all; only the amount above it is taxed, which is why Gross Estate Value has to clear a very high bar before Estimated Estate Tax becomes nonzero.
Does this calculator use the real graduated estate tax brackets?
No -- it applies a single flat 40% rate to the entire taxable estate above the exemption, rather than the actual graduated schedule that starts at 18%. The code's own comment explains this is a simplification: for large estates, the effective rate on amounts above the exemption is close to 40% anyway, but for an estate only modestly above the exemption threshold, the real tax would be somewhat lower than this estimate.
How much do charitable bequests and spousal transfers actually save?
Both subtract directly from the taxable estate before the 40% rate applies, so each dollar given to charity or left to a surviving US citizen spouse saves roughly 40 cents in estate tax once you're above the exemption -- the marital deduction is unlimited, so an estate passed entirely to a spouse can defer all federal estate tax until the second spouse's death.
What isn't included in this estate tax estimate?
This calculator only applies the federal exemption and a flat 40% rate; it doesn't model the generation-skipping transfer tax, portability of a deceased spouse's unused exemption (which can effectively double the exemption for a couple), state-level estate or inheritance taxes, or the graduated brackets below the top rate. Work with an estate planning attorney for a strategy that accounts for all of these.
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