What is the federal estate tax exemption for 2026?

For tax year 2026, the federal lifetime unified estate and gift tax exemption is $13,990,000 per individual ($27,980,000 for married couples filing jointly with DSUE portability).

Which states have their own state-level estate tax?

Twelve states and Washington D.C. levy an estate tax: Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington. State exemption thresholds are often substantially lower than the federal limit.

What is an inheritance tax and how does it differ from estate tax?

An estate tax is paid by the deceased person estate before distributions are made. An inheritance tax is paid by the beneficiary receiving the assets. Six states collect inheritance tax: Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Answer Packs

Short, citable answers to common U.S. estate and inheritance tax questions. Each pack links the official source, the date we verified it, and a calculator you can run yourself.

This page is not legal or tax advice. These are planning aids only. Always confirm with the IRS, your state Department of Revenue, or a licensed estate attorney / CPA.

2026 Statutory Document Guide

Estate Planning Checklist Printable: 8 Core Documents

Standard statutory instruments required to bypass probate, protect family wealth, and ensure medical guardianship.

Open Full Checklist Tool →

Core Legal Document	Primary Purpose	Probate Avoidance	Statutory Execution Requirement
Revocable Living Trust	Holds asset titles during lifetime and transfers to beneficiaries without court delay.	100% Bypasses Probate	Notarized deed/affidavit transfer
Last Will & Testament	Nominates legal guardians for minor children and catches non-trust assets (Pour-over).	Passes through Probate	2 Disinterested Witnesses + Notary
Financial Power of Attorney (DPOA)	Designates trusted agent to pay bills, manage bank accounts, and handle taxes if incapacitated.	Incapacity Protection	Notarized statutory acknowledgment
Advance Healthcare Directive	Outlines end-of-life preferences and appoints medical proxy under HIPAA privacy release.	Healthcare Proxy	2 Witnesses or State Notary

*Review our 50-state statutory exemption limits and probate timelines in the State Estate Tax Directory and calculate court fees on the Probate Fee Calculator.

Where can I find an estate planning checklist printable for 2026?

Our printable 2026 estate planning checklist covers 8 core statutory requirements: Last Will & Testament, Revocable Living Trust, Durable Financial Power of Attorney (DPOA), Advance Healthcare Directive (Living Will), HIPAA Authorization, Beneficiary Designation Audits (401k/IRA/Life Insurance), Digital Asset Inventory, and Letter of Intent.

Source: Uniform Probate Code & American Bar Association (ABA) · Verified 2026-08-09

Printable Checklist Tool →

Do I owe estate tax in 2026?

Only estates above the federal unified exemption (about $15M per person in 2026) owe federal estate tax, and only a handful of states levy their own estate or inheritance tax. Use the by-state tool to check your jurisdiction.

Source: IRC Chapter 11 / state Departments of Revenue · Verified 2026-08-09

By state →

How much can I gift tax-free in 2026?

The 2026 annual exclusion is $19,000 per donee ($38,000 per married couple). Gifts above that reduce your $15M lifetime exemption but only trigger tax once the exemption is exhausted.

Source: IRS — Annual Gift Tax Exclusion · Verified 2026-08-09

Gift Tax Calculator →

What is step-up in basis?

Inherited assets generally get a fair-market-value basis as of the date of death, erasing unrealized capital gains for heirs. The step-up tool estimates the embedded gain that washes out.

Source: IRC § 1014 · Verified 2026-08-09

Step-up Basis →

Which states have the lowest estate tax burden?

33 states have no estate or inheritance tax at all. Among taxing states, exemption levels and rates differ sharply. The compare tool ranks all states at once.

Source: State Departments of Revenue · Verified 2026-08-09

Compare states →

Answer Packs

Estate Planning Checklist Printable: 8 Core Documents

Where can I find an estate planning checklist printable for 2026?

Do I owe estate tax in 2026?

How much can I gift tax-free in 2026?

What is step-up in basis?

Which states have the lowest estate tax burden?

Related tools from our network

Moving & home

Vehicle & insurance

Safety & security

Health & pet