This calculator is part of the finance section. Keep the current tool open for calculation, then use the related calculators below to compare nearby planning tasks.
Finance calculator
Use an estate tax calculator to estimate federal estate tax, compare gross estate against deductions, and see how lifetime taxable gifts and the yearly exclusion amount affect the taxable estate.
How to use this calculator
An estate tax is a tax on the transfer of property at death. This page focuses on federal estate tax for U.S. residents and estimates the taxable amount by starting with gross estate assets, subtracting deductible liabilities and costs, adding lifetime taxable gifts, and then applying the federal exclusion amount for the selected year. Only the value above the exclusion amount is exposed to the federal estate tax rate.
Formula / method
This estate tax calculator uses the existing ToolModule calculation model for the inputs shown above. The page keeps the original formulas and result logic intact, then presents the output in a clearer working layout.
Example calculation
The example below reflects the current values shown in the calculator above, so it updates as you change the form without altering the calculation logic itself.
Disclaimer
Results are for reference only and do not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Product terms, lender rules, tax treatment, and fees can vary in real situations.
FAQ
It is built around federal estate tax first. You can add a state estate or inheritance tax amount as a deduction input, but state-specific estate-tax systems are not modeled in full detail here.
Lifetime taxable gifts can reduce the remaining unified federal exclusion available to the estate. Adding them back helps estimate how much exclusion may still be available at death.
No. Estate tax is generally assessed before assets are distributed from the estate, while inheritance tax is usually assessed on the person receiving the inheritance under the rules of a specific state.