Estate Tax Calculator

What this estate tax calculator does

The federal estate tax applies to the transfer of a person's assets at death when the taxable estate exceeds the available exclusion. This calculator adds up the estate, subtracts debts and deductible expenses, applies the 2026 federal exclusion, and estimates the federal tax at 40% of the amount above the remaining exclusion.

It is a federal estimate only. State estate or inheritance taxes are entered as a deduction and are not calculated from a state rate table.

How to use this calculator

1. Enter the value of each asset category. Use fair market value, not the original purchase price.
2. Enter debts, funeral and administration costs, charitable gifts, and any state estate or inheritance tax already paid.
3. Enter taxable gifts you made during your lifetime that used part of your exclusion.
4. Click Calculate to see the gross estate, net estate, remaining exclusion, taxable estate, and federal tax.

The default inputs are all zero, so the default result is zero. Add an asset value to see how the exclusion applies.

The 2026 federal exclusion

For decedents dying in 2026, the federal basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000 per individual. The federal estate tax rate above the exclusion is 40%. These figures come from the IRS 2026 inflation adjustments and the statutory rate schedule.

Lifetime taxable gifts reduce the exclusion available to the estate. If you gave $5,000,000 in taxable gifts during your life, the remaining exclusion is $10,000,000, not $15,000,000. The calculator applies that reduction before computing the taxable estate.

Estate tax formulas

Gross estate = Residence + Investments + Savings + Vehicles
             + Retirement plans + Life insurance + Other assets

Deductions = Debts + Funeral and administration + Charitable gifts
           + State estate or inheritance tax

Net estate = max(0, Gross estate − Deductions)

Remaining exclusion = max(0, 15,000,000 − Lifetime taxable gifts)
Taxable estate = max(0, Net estate − Remaining exclusion)
Federal estate tax = Taxable estate × 40%
After-tax value = max(0, Net estate − Federal estate tax)

The effective rate shown in the results is the federal tax divided by the net estate. It is lower than 40% whenever part of the estate is covered by the exclusion.

What the results mean

• Gross estate: the total value of the assets entered.
• Deductions: debts and expenses that reduce the estate before the tax is calculated.
• Net estate: the estate after deductions.
• Remaining exclusion: the part of the $15,000,000 federal exclusion left after lifetime taxable gifts.
• Taxable estate: the amount above the remaining exclusion.
• Federal estate tax: 40% of the taxable estate.
• After-tax value: what remains after the federal tax.

Only the amount above the exclusion is taxed. A $20,000,000 estate with no gifts has a $5,000,000 taxable estate and a $2,000,000 federal tax, not 40% of $20,000,000.

Assumptions and limitations

This calculator covers the federal estate tax for 2026 only. It does not calculate state estate or inheritance taxes, portability between spouses, generation-skipping transfer tax, trusts, valuation discounts, business succession arrangements, or the gift tax on lifetime transfers. It assumes the assets and deductions you enter are includible and deductible under the Code, which may not be true for every item.

Life insurance is included at its death benefit, retirement accounts at their fair market value, and real estate at fair market value. The calculator does not adjust for mortgages beyond the debt figure you enter. It is not a tax return, a valuation, or legal advice.

Frequently asked questions

Is the entire estate taxed at 40%?

No. The 40% rate applies only to the taxable estate above the available exclusion. The effective rate on the whole estate is usually much lower, and it is zero when the estate is below the exclusion.

Is the $15,000,000 exclusion per person or per couple?

It is per individual for 2026. A married couple may be able to use up to $30,000,000 with portability, but portability and the necessary election are not modeled here.

How do lifetime gifts affect the calculation?

Taxable gifts made during life use part of the same exclusion. The calculator subtracts them from the $15,000,000 to arrive at the remaining exclusion. Annual-exclusion gifts that were not taxable do not reduce the exclusion.

Why doesn't the calculator compute state estate tax?

State rules vary widely, and some states have their own exclusion, rate table, and filing requirements. Enter the state tax as a deduction if you already know it. A separate state-level calculation is outside this page's scope.

Reference table

Federal estate tax parameters

The federal estate tax applies to the taxable estate above the remaining exemption. State estate or inheritance taxes may apply at lower thresholds. Confirm the current IRS guidance for the year of death.

Source

References:

• IRS — Estate tax
• IRS — Revenue Procedure 2025-32 (2026 inflation adjustments)

Disclaimer

This calculator is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not legal, tax, or estate-planning advice. Estate tax rules, exclusions, and valuations depend on the facts of each estate. Consult a qualified estate planning attorney or tax adviser before making decisions.