Estate Tax Planning Calculator
Knowing your potential estate tax liability is a great place to start your estate tax plan. Use this calculator to estimate your estate tax liability.
How the estate tax planning calculator works
It subtracts the federal exemption from your gross estate and applies the estate tax rate to anything above it, then shows what passes to your heirs after any tax.
Worked example: with gross estate value of $5,000,000, federal exemption of $15,000,000 and estate tax rate of 40.00%, the estate tax planning calculator shows no federal estate tax of $0.
- Gross estate
- $5,000,000
- Exemption
- $15,000,000
- Taxable estate
- $0
- Passes to heirs
- $5,000,000
| Gross estate value | Estimated estate tax |
|---|---|
| $5,000,000 | $0 |
| $15,000,000 | $0 |
| $25,000,000 | $4,000,000 |
| $50,000,000 | $14,000,000 |
The formula
Taxable estate = max(0, gross estate − exemption); estate tax = taxable estate × rate (up to 40%).
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Confirm exact figures with your lender, plan administrator or advisor.
Questions about the estate tax planning calculator
Does my estate owe federal estate tax?
Only if it exceeds the federal exemption — $15 million per person for 2026. Because the exemption is so high, the vast majority of estates owe nothing.
How is the estate tax calculated?
Only the amount above the exemption is taxed, at rates up to 40%. Assets passing to a spouse or charity are generally exempt entirely.
Will the exemption change?
The 2025 tax law (OBBBA) made the high exemption permanent at $15 million per person for 2026, indexed for inflation, so the scheduled post-2025 halving no longer applies. Some states still tax smaller estates.
Is the Estate Tax Planning Calculator free to use?
Yes. Every calculator on FinCalculators is completely free, with no sign-up, login or paywall. You can run as many scenarios as you like.
- 2026 Estate & Gift Tax Exemption — The $15M exemption, $19,000 annual gift exclusion, GST exemption and 40% rate.