estate tax

noun

: a tax in the form of a percentage of the taxable estate that is imposed on a property owner's right to transfer the property to others after his or her death compare inheritance tax sense 1

Examples of estate tax in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The legislation would increase the child tax credit, create investment accounts for kids, increase the estate tax exemption, boost border security and allow residents of high-tax states to write off more of their income. Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 27 June 2025 Foreign investors with assets in the United States often encounter complex estate tax rules that can significantly impact taxation of their U.S. assets at death. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 7 June 2025 While gifting over the annual exclusion amount would trigger a gift tax, U.S. citizens do have a lifetime exemption amount of $13.99 million in 2025; thus, gifts over the annual exclusion amount would reduce such individual’s available estate tax exemption upon death. Darren T. Case, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 Waiting to plan means missing chances to pass money to your kids or grandkids without a huge estate tax bill. Anatoly Iofe, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for estate tax

Word History

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of estate tax was in 1928

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Estate tax.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/estate%20tax. Accessed 7 Jul. 2025.

Legal Definition

estate tax

noun
: an excise in the form of a percentage of the taxable estate that is imposed on a property owner's right to transfer the property to others after his or her death

called also succession tax

see also unified transfer tax compare gift tax, inheritance tax

More from Merriam-Webster on estate tax

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!