What is the estate tax exemption for 2026?

The federal estate tax exemption for 2026 is $15 million per individual. A married couple can shelter up to $30 million using portability. The exemption is indexed for inflation in subsequent years. Congress can change these figures; confirm the current amount at IRS.gov or with a qualified estate planning attorney.

What is the estate tax exemption for a married couple?

A married couple can use a combined federal exemption of up to $30 million in 2026 through portability. To preserve the first spouse's unused exemption, the executor must file Form 706 (the federal estate tax return) for the first spouse to die, even if no estate tax is owed, and make the portability election. Without that election, the unused portion is lost.

Will the estate tax exemption go down in 2026?

It did not go down. The TCJA-era higher exemption, which was set to expire after 2025, was made permanent by Congress and raised to $15 million per person effective for 2026. Future legislative changes remain possible. Always confirm current law with a tax professional before making estate planning decisions based on a specific exemption amount.

Do most people pay estate tax?

No. The IRS reports that fewer than 1 in 500 estates actually owe any federal estate tax, because the large exemption puts the tax well out of reach for most families. State estate taxes have lower exemptions and affect more estates, particularly in states like Oregon, Massachusetts, Washington and Hawaii. Running the numbers through the calculator quickly shows whether your estate is likely to have a tax liability.

What Is the Estate Tax Exemption? (2026 Federal and State Figures)

By Priya Raman, Contributing Writer, Policy & Regulation
Updated June 17, 2026

The federal estate tax exemption for 2026 is $15 million per individual, or $30 million for a married couple using portability. Estates below the applicable exemption owe no federal estate tax. The exemption is indexed for inflation, and a future Congress could change it, so treat the figure below as current rather than permanent.

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How the exemption works

The federal estate tax is assessed on the taxable estate: the gross estate at fair market value at death, minus allowable deductions for debts, funeral expenses, charitable bequests, and the unlimited marital deduction for assets left to a surviving U.S. citizen spouse. The exemption is then subtracted from that net figure. Only the amount above the exemption is taxed.

The 2026 exemption and TCJA history

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 roughly doubled the exemption from about $5.49 million to $11.18 million, with annual inflation adjustments. Those provisions were scheduled to sunset after 2025, which would have reset the exemption to roughly $7 million. Congress instead made the higher exemption permanent and set it at $15 million for 2026. Future Congresses can revise it; confirm the current figure at IRS.gov or with a CPA before making planning decisions.

Portability for married couples

If one spouse dies without using the full exemption, the surviving spouse can port the unused portion, giving the couple a combined $30 million exemption. Portability must be elected on a timely filed Form 706 for the first spouse to die, even when no estate tax is owed. Missing that election is a common and expensive mistake.

State exemptions are much lower

About a dozen states and the District of Columbia impose their own estate or inheritance taxes, with exemptions well below the federal line. Oregon taxes estates above $1 million; Massachusetts starts at $2 million. An estate that owes nothing to the IRS can still generate a substantial state bill. See which states have an estate or inheritance tax for a state-by-state comparison.

Educational content only, not legal or tax advice. The exemption figure above reflects law as of the update date and could change. Get guidance from an estate attorney or CPA before you plan around it.

See it applied to a real number

The calculator layers the federal exemption over any of the 13 state estate taxes so you can see both at once.