The Federal Estate Tax: Will It Rise From the Grave in 2011 or Sooner?

The repeal of the federal estate tax in 2010 and the prospect of its reinstatement in 2011 bring debate over the “death tax” to the fore again. Some of the arguments are new: Would it be constitutional for Congress to reinstate the estate tax retroactively for 2010? But some of the arguments are a century old or more: Does the estate tax accomplish any worthwhile social purpose? Is it a good way to raise revenue?

In this Special Report we condense and update some earlier Tax Foundation studies on this age-old topic, with specific reference to the recent, surprising death and potential new life for the estate tax.