Connecticut has its own estate tax with an exemption of about $13.61M and a top rate of 12% — well below the $15M federal exemption, so more estates are affected.
Only the value of a taxable estate above the $13.61M exemption is taxed, at rates topping out around 12%. The unlimited marital deduction and charitable gifts reduce the taxable estate. Estimate your Connecticut and federal tax together in the estate tax calculator.
Because the Connecticut exemption is far below the federal level, even middle-class estates with a home and retirement savings can be exposed. Lifetime gifting (see the gift tax calculator) and the step-up in basis (the step-up calculator) are common tools. Confirm current figures with Connecticut, as exemptions are indexed.