Center for State Tax Policy

Estate and Gift Taxes

The federal government taxes transfers of wealth in three ways: through the estate tax, the gift tax and the generation-skipping transfer tax. Together these taxes make up the federal transfer tax system. In addition, many U.S. states impose estate taxes.

Estate taxes and generation-skipping transfer taxes are paid on the contents of estates or proceeds of trusts, while transfers of wealth between living persons are subject to gift taxes. The federal government enacted the first estate tax in 1916. Studies routinely find that estate taxes discourage entrepreneurship and lead to large tax compliance costs.

Featured Research

Facts and Figures 2021: How Does Your State Compare?

March 10, 2021

State Tax Changes as of January 1, 2020

December 20, 2019

Does Your State Have an Estate or Inheritance Tax?

October 16, 2019

Prepared Testimony for the Connecticut Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue, and Bonding

April 10, 2019

Enhancing Tax Competitiveness in Connecticut

July 31, 2018

Trends in State Tax Policy, 2018

December 14, 2017

Related Articles

Facts and Figures 2021: How Does Your State Compare?

Does Your State Have an Estate or Inheritance Tax?

Does Your State Have an Estate or Inheritance Tax?

Tax Trends at the Dawn of 2020

State Tax Changes as of January 1, 2020

Does Your State Have an Estate or Inheritance Tax?

Minnesota Considers $1.35 Billion Biennial Tax Increase

Prepared Testimony for the Connecticut Joint Committee on Finance, Revenue, and Bonding

Enhancing Tax Competitiveness in Connecticut

D.C. Proposes Sales Tax Increase, Other Tax Changes

Does Your State Have an Estate or Inheritance Tax?

State Tax Changes That Took Effect on January 1, 2018

Trends in State Tax Policy, 2018

State Inheritance and Estate Taxes: Rates, Economic Implications, and the Return of Interstate Competition

A Bevy of Tax Bills To Raise Long-Term Revenue in Delaware

Minnesota Budget Squabbles Might Spur Lawsuit

Delivering Tax Relief to D.C. Taxpayers

Does Your State Have an Estate or Inheritance Tax?

D.C. Council Committee to Vote on Interrupting Tax Reform Package

D.C. to Enact Remaining Tax Cuts After Projection of Large Recurring Surplus