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Pulsafi

Federal Estate Tax Exemption (2026)

$13.99M
Federal estate tax exemption per individual (2026)
Summary

The 2026 federal estate tax exemption is $13.99 million per individual ($27.98M for married couples using portability). Estates above the exemption are taxed at 18-40% (top rate). The exemption is set to drop to ~$7M in 2026 if Congress lets it expire under the 2017 TCJA sunset — a major estate planning concern for high-net-worth families.

Breakdown

Per individual (2026)$13.99M
Married couple (portability)$27.98M
Top federal estate tax rate40%
Annual gift tax exclusion$19,000/person
Lifetime gift exemption$13.99M
Source
IRS Rev. Proc. 2024-40· As of 2026-Q1

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2026 Federal Tax Brackets (Single Filers)

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All Pulsafi stats are sourced from primary government data and major financial institutions. Read the full methodology and data-sources page.