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

Insurance that follows an insured property. ...

In property insurance, a stipulated agreement between the insurance company and the insured that the amount of insurance coverage under the policy is sufficient to be in compliance with the ...

laws enacted by all of the 50 states whose purpose it is to reduce or eliminate the volunteer's civil liability exposure. An ideal law would exclude the volunteer from civil liability ...

Assets, such as furniture and fixtures, that are not permitted by state law to be included in an insurance company's ANNUAL STATEMENT. ...

Negligent acts and/or omissions by the individual (s) and the organization (s) resulting in damage to the environment. For example, pollution of the environment suits against manufacturers ...

Now-defunct bureau founded by fire insurance underwriters in 1866 to work for fire prevention and loss control. The board helped standardize the fire insurance policy. In the mid-1960s, the ...

Same as term Associate in Automation Management: professional designation earned after the successful completion of three national examinations given by the insurance institute of America ...

Property coverage for a builder of ships until possession passes to the owners. Protects against pre-launch and post-launch perils. Coverage can be purchased on an all risks basis subject ...

Dividend paid in addition to the regular dividend on a participating insurance policy. ...

Popular Insurance Questions