Estate Tax Calculator (US)
Estimate federal estate tax: taxable estate above the lifetime exemption, taxed at the top rate.
Formula
US federal estate tax applies only to the portion of a taxable estate above the lifetime exemption — which is very high ($13.99M per individual in 2025), so the vast majority of estates owe nothing. Above that threshold, the marginal rate climbs to 40%. The taxable estate is the gross value of everything you own at death minus debts, funeral costs, and charitable and unlimited marital deductions; the exemption is also portable between spouses. This calculator gives a top-line federal estimate using a flat top rate and ignores the graduated brackets, state-level estate or inheritance taxes (which several states levy at lower thresholds), prior taxable gifts, and the step-up in basis. Anyone near the threshold should plan with an estate attorney — trusts, gifting and life insurance can materially cut the bill.
Educational estimate; ignores state taxes, graduated brackets and prior gifts. Not tax or legal advice. Not financial advice — for informational and analytical use only. Verify all figures with a qualified professional before acting on them.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Need estate tax calculator results fast? Analysts, founders, traders and finance professionals use the Estate Tax Calculator to skip the spreadsheet and get a defensible answer in one step — free, private and instant.
About Estate Tax Calculator (US)
Estimate federal estate tax: taxable estate above the lifetime exemption, taxed at the top rate. US federal estate tax applies only to the portion of a taxable estate above the lifetime exemption — which is very high ($13.99M per individual in 2025), so the vast majority of estates owe nothing. Above that threshold, the marginal rate climbs to 40%. The taxable estate is the gross value of everything you own at death minus debts, funeral costs, and charitable and unlimited marital deductions; the exemption is also portable between spouses. This calculator gives a top-line federal estimate using a flat top rate and ignores the graduated brackets, state-level estate or inheritance taxes (which several states levy at lower thresholds), prior taxable gifts, and the step-up in basis. Anyone near the threshold should plan with an estate attorney — trusts, gifting and life insurance can materially cut the bill. The governing relationship is Tax = max(0, (Gross − deductions) − exemption) × rate. The Estate Tax Calculator computes entirely in your browser — free, private (your figures never leave your device) and instant, recalculating live as you change any input.
How to use Estate Tax Calculator (US)
- 1Enter Gross estate value ($), Debts, charity & marital deductions ($), Lifetime exemption ($), Top estate-tax rate (%) into the Estate Tax Calculator.
- 2The result is computed automatically using Tax = max(0, (Gross − deductions) − exemption) × rate — there is no button to press.
- 3Change any input to model a different scenario, then copy or share the result.
Why use Estate Tax Calculator (US)?
- ✓Computes estate tax calculator instantly with the correct formula — no spreadsheet needed
- ✓100% free and unlimited, with no sign-up, login or paywall
- ✓Runs entirely in your browser, so the figures you enter stay private
- ✓Shows the formula, a live worked example and references so you can defend the number
Frequently asked questions
What is the formula behind the Estate Tax Calculator?+
Estate Tax Calculator uses Tax = max(0, (Gross − deductions) − exemption) × rate. US federal estate tax applies only to the portion of a taxable estate above the lifetime exemption — which is very high ($13. The tool substitutes your actual inputs into this relationship and shows the worked example step by step.
What inputs does the Estate Tax Calculator need?+
Enter Gross estate value ($), Debts, charity & marital deductions ($), Lifetime exemption ($), Top estate-tax rate (%) and the result updates immediately — there is no button to press. Change any value to model a different scenario in real time.
Is the Estate Tax Calculator free, and is my data private?+
Yes — it is completely free with no sign-up or usage limit, and it runs entirely in your browser, so the numbers you enter are never uploaded or stored on any server. Educational estimate; ignores state taxes, graduated brackets and prior gifts. Not tax or legal advice. It is for informational and analytical use, not financial advice.
What should I watch out for when using the Estate Tax Calculator?+
99M per individual in 2025), so the vast majority of estates owe nothing. Above that threshold, the marginal rate climbs to 40%. The taxable estate is the gross value of everything you own at death minus debts, funeral costs, and charitable and unlimited marital deductions; the exemption is also portable between spouses. This calculator gives a top-line federal estimate using a flat top rate and ignores the graduated brackets, state-level estate or inheritance taxes (which several states levy at lower thresholds), prior taxable gifts, and the step-up in basis. Anyone near the threshold should plan with an estate attorney — trusts, gifting and life insurance can materially cut the bill.
What is the Estate Tax Calculator based on?+
The method follows authoritative sources: IRS Estate Tax — unified credit / exemption and 40% top rate. The formula and references are shown on the page so you can verify and cite the result.
Related Finance tools
Human Life Value (HLV) Calculator
The economic value of your future earnings to your family — the income-replacement basis for sizing a life-insurance cover.
● LiveTerm Life Insurance Coverage Calculator
How much term-life cover you actually need — replacing income, clearing debts and funding goals, net of existing assets and cover.
● LiveDIME Method Life Insurance Calculator
The DIME formula — Debt + Income + Mortgage + Education — a fast, complete way to size a life-insurance cover.
● Live