Estate Tax: The estate tax in the United States is a tax on the transfer of the estate of a deceased person. The tax applies to property that is transferred via a will or according to state laws of intestacy. Other transfers that are subject to the tax can include those made through an intestate estate or trust, or the payment of certain life insurance benefits or financial account sums to beneficiaries. According to the IRS, the estate tax is one part of the Unified Gift and Estate Tax system in the United States. The other part of the system, the gift tax, applies to transfers of property during a person’s life. In addition to the federal estate tax, many states have enacted similar taxes of their own. These taxes may be termed an “inheritance tax.” If an asset is left to a spouse or a federally recognized charity, the tax usually does not apply. In addition, a maximum amount, varying year by year, can be given by an individual, before and/or upon their death, without incurring federal gift or estate taxes: $11.2 million for married couples (and half that for an individual). The annual gift exclusion amount is $16,000 for 2022. • Inheritance Tax: Heirs pay federal inheritance tax on the net worth of their inheritance. The net worth is the gross value less certain deductions, a mortgage that must be paid off on an inherited house, for instance, or a marital deduction for property inherited by a spouse. If the result is more than the IRS exempt amount for a given year, the heir must pay an inheritance tax at the federal income- tax rate for the non-exempt amount. • Property Tax: Heirs may have to pay property taxes as soon as they inherit real estate and will pay them for as long as they own the house. Many states cap how much the assessed property value can rise from year to year, but
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