Skip to main content
Skip to main content
Tax GuideFeatured

Inheritance Tax Guide 2026: State-by-State Rules, Exemptions & Calculator

A CPA-reviewed guide by Rachel Mitchell, CPA — updated for 2026 tax year

Complete inheritance tax guide for 2026. Learn the difference between estate tax and inheritance tax, state-by-state rules, federal exemptions, and how to calculate your inheritance tax liability.

By Rachel Mitchell, CPA1 min read
inheritance tax calculatorinheritance tax 2026estate tax 2026inheritance tax by stateinheritance tax exemptioninheritance tax ratefederal estate tax exemption 2026inheritance tax vs estate taxinheritance tax guidestate inheritance tax
Rachel Mitchell, CPA

Lead Tax Analyst & Editorial Director, TheTaxCalc

Rachel Mitchell is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) licensed in Illinois with over 12 years of experience in individual and small-business taxation. She specializes in federal and state income tax compliance, FICA optimization, payroll tax strategy, and multi-state tax planning. Rachel holds an MS in Taxation from Golden Gate University and a BS in Accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is an active member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) and the Illinois CPA Society. Before joining TheTaxCalc, Rachel spent 8 years at a Big Four accounting firm advising high-net-worth clients on tax-efficient wealth strategies.

Reviewed: January 2026Tax data verified against IRS Publication 15-T & state revenue departments

Try Our Tax Calculators

See exactly how much you'll take home after all taxes and deductions.

Popular Salary Calculations

Quick access to take-home pay estimates for common salary levels.

Related Articles