Estate Tax Calculator
Estimate federal estate tax by subtracting debts and the lifetime exemption from your gross estate, then applying the 40% rate to whatever remains. A quick way to see whether an estate is likely to owe anything at all and roughly how much.
How to Use
- Enter the gross estate — the total value of all assets (property, investments, business interests, life insurance, and more).
- Enter debts and deductions, such as mortgages, final expenses, and charitable or marital deductions.
- Enter the applicable federal exemption (about $13.61M per individual for 2026; roughly double for a married couple using portability).
- Enter the tax rate (the top federal rate is a flat 40%).
- Read the taxable estate and the estimated federal estate tax owed above the exemption.
Show Work
2026 numbers
About the Estate Tax Calculator
The Estate Tax Calculator gives you a fast, free answer for personal-finance and money decisions without sending anything off your device. Estimate federal estate tax by subtracting debts and the lifetime exemption from your gross estate, then applying the 40% rate to whatever remains. A quick way to see whether an estate is likely to owe anything at all and roughly how much.
How it works
Enter your figures and the result appears instantly, updating the moment you change anything. There is no submit button and nothing to wait for, so it is easy to try a few what-if numbers and compare the results. Just check each box holds the kind of value it expects.
Want the deeper story? The Knowledge Base explains the ideas behind the tools in more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who actually pays federal estate tax?
Very few estates do. Federal estate tax only applies to the amount above the lifetime exemption, which is about $13.61M per individual in 2026, so the vast majority of estates owe nothing. This is an estimate for planning purposes, not tax advice — consult an estate attorney or CPA for an actual return.
How does the exemption work for married couples?
Each spouse has their own exemption, and "portability" lets a surviving spouse add any unused portion of the first spouse's exemption to their own, effectively doubling it to roughly $27.22M in 2026. Claiming portability requires filing an estate tax return when the first spouse dies, even if no tax is due. The unlimited marital deduction also lets assets pass tax-free to a surviving U.S.-citizen spouse.
What counts as part of the gross estate?
Almost everything you own or control at death: real estate, bank and brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, business interests, vehicles, valuables, and often the full death benefit of life insurance if you owned the policy. Debts, funeral costs, and certain deductions reduce it to the taxable estate. The figure can be larger than people expect once life insurance is included.
Is the estate tax the same as inheritance tax?
No. Estate tax is paid by the estate before assets are distributed, based on the total value. Inheritance tax is paid by the person receiving the assets and exists only in a handful of states. This calculator covers federal estate tax only; several states levy their own estate tax with much lower exemptions, so a state-level bill is possible even when no federal tax is due.
Why might the exemption change?
The elevated exemption from the 2017 tax law is scheduled to sunset, and absent new legislation it could drop substantially after 2025, pulling more estates into taxable territory. Exemption amounts are also adjusted for inflation each year. Because the law can shift, treat any projection as an estimate and revisit your plan when rules change — this is not tax advice.
How do I use the Estate Tax Calculator?
Simply type your numbers and read the result, which refreshes the instant you change something. There is nothing to submit and nothing to wait for.
Does it cost anything or need an account?
No. The tool is completely free, there is no account to create, and it keeps working offline after the page first loads.
Is anything I type uploaded?
No. The tool works entirely on your device, so the values you enter never leave your browser.
Common Use Cases
High-net-worth estate planning
See whether an estate is projected to exceed the exemption and roughly what the federal bill would be.
Testing the impact of gifting
Lower the gross estate to model how lifetime gifting could reduce the taxable amount over time.
Married-couple portability
Use the doubled exemption to check whether combined assets stay under the couple's threshold.
Life insurance review
Add policy death benefits to the gross estate to see how ownership affects potential estate tax.
Preparing to meet an advisor
Get a ballpark figure before a conversation with an estate attorney or CPA so the meeting is more focused.
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