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

Agent who is licensed and who markets and services insurance policies in a state in which he or she is not domiciled. ...

Coverage following the same structure as group term, the significant difference being that premiums go toward the purchase of permanent insurance instead of term insurance. The employee has ...

One that combines the two forms of ownership, stock and mutual. A stock insurance company is owned by stockholders, whereas a mutual insurance company is owned by its policyholders. A mixed ...

Liability insurance that provides coverage for the insured in the event the insured's negligent acts and/or omissions result in libel, slander, invasion of privacy, or false arrest suit. ...

Coverage of the employer for all employees on a blanket basis, with the maximum limit of coverage applied to any one loss without regard for the number of employees involved. Both ...

Same as term Buy-Back Deductible: deductible eliminated through the payment of an additional premium, resulting in first-dollar coverage under the policy. ...

Liability or loss resulting from an accident. Such liability or losses are covered under such policies as the following: business automobile policy (BAP), business property and liability ...

Clause in some current ASSUMPTION WHOLE LIFE INSURANCE policies Such as UNIVERSAL LIFE insurance that allows unscheduled premiums to be paid at any time prior to the policy's maturity date, ...

Contract first written in 1918 that provided the basis for modern-day property insurance, both personal and commercial. Forms and endorsements must be added to complete the policy and ...

Popular Insurance Questions