Definition of "Federal estate tax"

Mike Williams real estate agent

Written by

Mike Williamselite badge icon

Keller Williams

Federal tax imposed on the estate of a decedent according to the value of that estate. The first step in the computation of the federal estate tax owed is to determine the value of the decedent's gross estate. This determination can be made by adding the following values of assets owned by the decedent at the time of death:

  1. property owned outright.
  2. gratuitous lifetime transfers, but with the stipulation that the decedent retained the income or control over the income.
  3. gratuitous lifetime transfers subject to the recipient's surviving the decedent.
  4. gratuitous lifetime transfers subject to the decedent's retaining the right to revoke, amend, or alter the gift.
  5. annuities purchased by the decedent that are payable for the life time of the named survivor as well as the annuitant.
  6. property jointly held in such a manner that another party receives the decedent's interest in that property at the decedent's death because of that party's survivor ship.
  7. life insurance in which the decedent retained incidents of ownership.
  8. life insurance that was payable to the decedent's estate.
The second step in the computation of the federal estate tax owed is to subtract allowable deductions (including bequests to charities, bequests to the surviving spouse, funeral expenses, and other administration expenses) from the gross estate. This results in the taxable estate. Adjustable taxable gifts are then added to the taxable estate, resulting in the computational tax base. From the table below, the appropriate tax rate is then applied to the computational tax base, resulting in the tentative (certain credits may still be subtracted) federal estate tax.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Subtraction of a number of years from a standard table of life insurance rates under the assumption that a particular group-women-outlive men and presumably will be paying premiums for a ...

In ocean marine insurance, provision stipulating that upon the collision of two or more ships, when all ships are at fault, all owners and shippers having monetary interests in the voyage ...

Insurance company that does not utilize the rates and policies of a rating bureau. ...

Branch of knowledge dealing with the mathematics of insurance, including probabilities. It is used in ensuring that risks are carefully evaluated, that adequate premiums are charged for ...

Summary certificate of benefits issued to an employee in lieu of a policy. The master contract remains with the employer. For example, in group life insurance, an employee receives only a ...

Presence of other contract (s) covering the same conditions. When more than one policy covers the exposure, each policy will pay an equal share of the loss. ...

Recording and presentation of financial statements, such as the annual statement, by the insurance company. Financial reporting statements are used by the State Insurance Commissioner in ...

Payment of that portion of the annual premium by the employee necessary to cover the PS-58 cost for that given year. Any unpaid premium balance for that particular year is paid by the ...

Specific powers that a prospective insured believes the insurance company has granted to its agent. For example, if the insurance company has furnished the agent a rate book, application ...

Popular Insurance Questions