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

Form of cash refund annuity used by contributory pension or employee benefit plans. When employee participants die before receiving all of their contributions in the form of retirement ...

Third-in-line beneficiary to receive benefits from an insurance policy should the primary and secondary beneficiaries not survive. ...

Coverage that will indemnify the insured for the expenses, up to the limits of the policy, if a building is damaged by a peril such as fire, and zoning requirements and/or building codes ...

Professional designation earned after the successful completion of five national examinations given by the insurance institute of America (IIA). Covers such areas of expertise as accident ...

Legislation that makes insurance fraud a federal crime. This act is part of the Omnibus Crime Bill. Under the act, it is a federal crime to embezzle or misappropriate funds, money, or ...

Insurance company established by a trade group or other association to provide selected types of primary insurance and/or liability insurance for members of the association and access to ...

Call on a prospective insurance buyer without a prior appointment. Many salespeople find this exercise the most threatening in their career development. Some observers attribute the ...

Single policy under which one individual is insured. ...

Settlement choice under a life insurance policy whereby a beneficiary may elect to have the death proceeds paid in the form of a joint and survivor annuity. ...

Popular Insurance Questions