State-Level Estate Taxes and Exemptions

It can cost a great deal of money to die—at least if you're reasonably wealthy. Estates valued at more than the federal exemption of $11.7 million can expect to pay up to 40% in estate taxes at the federal level as of January 2021, although Congress continues debating whether to eliminate this tax. 

Twelve states and the District of Columbia also impose estate taxes of their own as of 2021. Here's a summary of these state taxes and the changes that have taken effect in recent years.

Rhode Island and Connecticut 

Two states saw their estate tax exemption increase on Jan. 1, 2010: Rhode Island's exemption increased to $850,000 and Connecticut's exemption increased to $3.5 million. 

The Rhode Island estate tax exemption was adjusted for deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2011, based on the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index rounded to the nearest $5. In 2015, the exemption increased to $1.5 million; it stands at $1.6 million as of 2021. The top tax rate is 16%. 

On May 4, 2011, the Connecticut estate tax exemption was retroactively decreased from $3.5 million back down to $2 million for deaths occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2011. It's up to $7.1 million as of 2021. The top tax rate is 12%.

Illinois 

Illinois saw its estate tax disappear on Jan. 1, 2010, due to the repeal of the federal estate tax. Then the federal tax was retroactively reinstated, but Illinois' tax did not automatically return. The Illinois legislature had to act quickly at the beginning of 2011 to reinstate the tax for the 2011 tax year with a $2 million exemption. Then the legislature acted in December 2011 to increase the exemption to $3.5 million in 2012 and to $4 million in 2013 and future years. The exemption remains at $4 million in 2021 and the top tax rate is 16%.

Hawaii 

Hawaii brought back its state estate tax effective May 1, 2010. Although the Hawaii estate tax exemption was set at $3.5 million for deaths occurring before Jan. 26, 2012, the tax didn't actually kick in until an estate exceeded $3.6 million in value. Then, in May 2012, Hawaii tweaked its estate tax laws to provide that the exemption will be tied to the federal estate tax exemption for decedents dying after Jan. 25, 2012.

Hawaii appears to be the first and only state that allows "portability of the estate tax exemption" between spouses at the state level. This effectively allows the first spouse who dies to transfer any unused portion of their exemption to their spouse, thereby increasing the spouse's exemption amount. Hawaii was initially planning to match the federal estate tax exemption by 2019, but this is no longer the case. New legislation was passed in 2019 to establish the current estate tax exemption of $5,490,000. 

Vermont 

Vermont's estate tax exemption increased to $2.75 million effective Jan. 1, 2011. It's up to $5 million as of 2021. The state has a top tax rate of 16%. 

Oregon 

The name of Oregon's death tax changed from an "inheritance tax" to an "estate tax" on Jan. 1, 2012. The Oregon estate tax exemption, formerly the inheritance tax exemption, remained at $1 million for 2012 and future years, and it's still at $1 million in 2021. Currently, the tax only applies to the value of an estate in excess of $1 million. Under the prior law, it applied to the entire estate when it exceeded the $1 million threshold.

The estate tax rates also changed in 2012. The majority of estates valued between $1 and $2 million paid slightly less in taxes and those valued over $2 million paid slightly more. Oregon Ballot Measure 84, which would have repealed Oregon's estate tax by 2016, was defeated on Nov. 6, 2012, and it doesn't appear that Oregon's estate tax will be repealed anytime soon.

Maine 

Maine's estate tax exemption increased to $2 million effective Jan. 1, 2013, and the tax rate was reduced. As of 2021, the exemption has increased again at $5.8 million, and the top rate is currently 12%. 

Washington 

Washington tweaked its state estate tax laws in several ways in June 2013 to affect the estates of decedents who died on or after Jan. 1, 2014. First, the state's $2 million exemption was indexed for inflation on an annual basis. Then the estate tax rates for the top four brackets increased by one percentage point. Finally, certain family-owned businesses received an estate tax exemption of up to $2.5 million. As of 2021, the exemption sits at $2.193 million, and the top tax rate is 20%.

Minnesota 

In an unusual move, Minnesota enacted a state gift tax that went into effect on July 1, 2013. The state additionally tweaked its estate tax laws at that time as they applied to nonresidents who owned real estate in Minnesota. The new legislation included any Minnesota property that was held in a pass-through entity such as an S corporation, a partnership, or a multi-member LLC taxed as a partnership, a single-member LLC or similar entity, or a trust in a nonresident's estate. 

Then, in another unusual move, Governor Mark Dayton signed legislation on March 21, 2014, which repealed the state gift tax retroactively. The state estate tax exemption was retroactively increased to $1.2 million for all 2014 deaths and the estate tax rate was tweaked so that the first dollars are taxed at a 9% rate which then maxed out at 16%. The estate tax exemption sits at $3 million in 2021.

The new law also allows married couples to use ABC trust planning to defer the payment of all estate taxes until after the death of the second spouse. Finally, the law taxing a nonresident decedent's interest in a pass-through entity was also modified to exclude certain publicly traded entities, but it still applies to entities taxed as partnerships or S corporations that own a closely held business, farm, or cabin.

New York 

On April 1, 2014, New York made significant changes to its estate tax laws by increasing the state's exemption to $2,062,500. The exemption was then scheduled to continue to increase on an annual basis until it matches the federal estate tax exemption in 2019. It's at $5.9 million as of 2021, with a top tax rate of 16%.

The District of Columbia 

Washington, D.C., continues to tax estates at a top rate of 16%. The exemption is $4 million as of 2021.

Maryland

Maryland's estate tax exemption increased to $5 million. The top tax rate is 16%. 

Massachusetts

Massachusetts also has an estate tax at a top rate of 16% on estates valued at more than $1 million. 

NOTE: State laws change frequently, and this information may not reflect recent changes in them. For current tax or legal advice, please consult with an accountant or an attorney. The information contained in this article is not tax or legal advice and is not a substitute for tax or legal advice.