Skip to content

    Under active development. New calculators and features ship every week. Everything currently runs free while the site matures — pricing pages are a preview, checkout is not open yet.

    Search ⌘K
    Calculates locally in your browser · 2025 federal estate tax
    Estate / transfer tax

    Estate tax calculator

    The federal estate tax is flat at 40%, but only on the part of the estate above the exemption. This calculator applies the 2025 exclusion, the marital and charitable deductions, portability between spouses, and the annual gifting exclusion that moves value out of the estate without using lifetime exemption.

    Exemption$13.99MRate40%StatusTaxable
    Federal estate tax
    $404,000
    2.7% of the gross estate
    Taxable estate
    $1,010,000
    Above the $13,990,000 exemption
    Net to heirs
    $14,596,000
    After deductions and tax
    Annual gifting capacity
    $76,000
    4 recipients at $19,000
    Estate calculation
    Gross estate, deductions, exemption and the 40% rate.
    $404,000
    Estate calculation
    StepAmount
    Gross estate$15,000,000
    Marital and charitable deductions$0.00
    Exemption applied$13,990,000
    Taxable estate$1,010,000
    Federal tax at 40%$404,000
    Net to heirs$14,596,000

    Portability doubles the surviving spouse’s exemption when the first spouse’s unused exclusion is elected.

    Inspect the model
    Choose a quick result view, a scaled comparison, or the complete diagnostic set.
    Estate tax against estate size
    Flat below the exemption, then a straight 40% above it.
    Estate tax against estate size$0$1434.5k$2869.0k$4303.5k$5738.0k$7172.5k0M0M3M3M6M6M9M9M12M12M15M15M18M18M21M21M24M24M27M27M30M30MTax
    Canonical equations
    The exact relationships implemented by this engine.

    max(0, gross − deductions − exemption) · Marital and charitable deductions come first.

    40% × taxable estate · Flat federal rate above the exemption.

    recipients × annual exclusion · Removes value without using lifetime exemption.

    finance methodology

    A clear path from inputs to results.

    The federal estate tax is flat at 40%, but only on the part of the estate above the exemption. This calculator applies the 2025 exclusion, the marital and charitable deductions, portability between spouses, and the annual gifting exclusion that moves value out of the estate without using lifetime exemption.

    Step-by-step methodWorked exampleAssumptions explained

    How to use

    1. Enter the gross estate.
    2. Add marital and charitable deductions.
    3. Choose whether the spousal exemption is portable.
    4. Read the taxable estate, the tax and the net to heirs.

    The formula

    T=0.40×max⁡(0,E−D−X)T = 0.40 \times \max(0, E - D - X)

    Reference: IRC §2001 (estate tax), §2010(c) (basic exclusion, portability), §2503(b) (annual gift exclusion).

    Worked example

    $15M estate, no deductions, single exemption

    Inputs
    • Gross estate $15,000,000.
    • No deductions.
    • 2025 exemption $13,990,000.
    Calculation path
    1. 1

      Taxable estate: 15,000,000 − 13,990,000 = $1,010,000.

    2. 2

      Tax at 40%: $404,000.

    3. 3

      Net to heirs: $14,596,000.

    Result

    Taxable $1.01M · tax $404,000 · heirs receive $14.60M.

    Interpreting the result

    Only the excess over the exemption is taxed, so an estate just above the line pays a small amount. The bigger planning levers are the marital deduction, portability between spouses and annual gifting, each of which moves value out of the taxable base without using the 40% rate.

    Assumptions & limitations

    • Federal estate tax only.
    • No state estate or inheritance tax.
    • No trusts, valuation discounts or life insurance structuring.
    • Exemption is the 2025 basic exclusion; it is scheduled to change.

    Frequently asked questions

    Is the rate progressive?

    No. It is a flat 40% above the exemption.

    How much can I gift each year?

    $19,000 per recipient in 2025 without filing or using lifetime exemption.

    What is portability?

    A surviving spouse can use the deceased spouse’s unused exclusion, effectively doubling it.

    Methodology last reviewed 2026-10-21. Results are informational and not financial or engineering advice — see our disclaimer.