Federal Gift and Estate Law in 2017 and Beyond

The federal estate tax will continue to affect only the richest families in America.

The Federal Gift Tax

If you make very large gifts during your lifetime, you may owe federal gift tax.

Estate and Gift Tax FAQ

Questions What is the tax rate for taxable estates? Are there ways to avoid federal estate taxes? Can't I just give all my property away before I die and avoid estate taxes? Do some states impose estate tax? Can I avoid paying state estate or inheritance taxes? Will my estate have to pay federal estate

Estate Tax: The New Rules for Same-Sex Couples

The Supreme Court's DOMA decision changes the rules for federal estate tax.

Estate Tax: Will Your Estate Have to Pay?

Most estates don't owe federal estate or gift tax, because you can give away or leave substantial amounts of property tax-free.

Charitable Lead Trusts

A charitable lead annuity trust gives you a way to make a large gift to charity, get a tax break, and eventually leave assets to family members.

Life Insurance Trusts

If you own a life insurance policy on your own life, and you’re concerned about estate taxes, you may be able to use a life insurance trust to reduce the size of your taxable estate.

Reduce Estate Tax by Making Gifts

Making gifts during your life can provide you with tax savings and more.

The Charitable Remainder Trust: Do Good and Get Tax Breaks

A charitable trust lets you donate generously to charity, and it gives you and your heirs a big tax break. But charitable trusts also require that that you give up legal control of your property, and charitable trusts are irrevocable -- once the trust becomes operational, you cannot change your mind and regain legal control of the trust property.

Using QDOTs to Plan for Noncitizen Spouses

This kind of trust can defer estate taxes for wealthy couples.

State Estate Taxes

Most Americans don’t need to worry about the federal estate tax, which applies only to very large estates: under current law, only estates of more tha

Inheritance Tax

The estate tax gets a lot more attention, but people who inherit property may also have to pay a separate inheritance tax, which is imposed by six states.

Indiana Inheritance Tax

Indiana’s inheritance tax is imposed on certain people who inherit money from someone who was an Indiana resident or owned property (real estate or other tangible property) in the state.

Iowa Inheritance Tax

Anyone who inherits money or other property from someone in Iowa might owe state inheritance tax. The tax rate, however, is based on how closely the inheritor and deceased person were related.

Kentucky Inheritance Tax

Kentucky, like other states with an inheritance tax, doesn’t tax everyone who inherits; close family members are exempt.

Maryland Inheritance Tax

Maryland collects an inheritance tax when certain recipients inherit property from someone who lived in Maryland or owned property there.

Nebraska Inheritance Tax

Nebraska taxes property that is left by deceased Nebraska residents or by nonresidents who owned real estate (or other tangible property) in the state.

New Jersey Inheritance Tax

New Jersey is one of only a few states that impose both an inheritance tax and a state estate tax.

Pennsylvania Inheritance Tax

Pennsylvania collects inheritance tax when property is left to people who weren’t closely related to the deceased person.