How much is the inheritance tax?

The amount will vary depending on the state.

How do I protect my inheritance from taxes?

There are ways that you can avoid being charged for inheritance taxes. These include moving into a state that doesn't collect an inheritance tax, putting assets into a trust, qualifying the assets as a small estate, and gifting the money to charity.

A trust is a legal entity that holds and manages assets for another person.

Do all states impose inheritance tax?

Only six states in the United States impose an inheritance tax: Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania.

Inheritance Tax | Ways to Protect Inheritance From Tax

Will Inheritance Be Taxed?

Generally, yes. Inheritance can be taxed in two ways: inheritance tax and estate tax. However, it is important to note that inheritance tax is not levied by all states.

In fact, there are only 6 states in the U.S. that impose an inheritance tax. The beneficiary's relationship to the deceased person will also matter when collecting inheritance tax.

The estate tax will also only be collected if it goes beyond the given threshold.

It will only apply if the assets of the deceased person reach $11.7 million dollars or more for the year 2021.

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Inheritance Tax vs Estate Tax

The main difference between these two kinds of taxes is that inheritance tax is to be shouldered by the beneficiary while estate tax will be taken from the deceased's assets before distribution is made to beneficiaries.

Another difference is that estate tax is levied by both the federal government and state while inheritance tax is only levied by the state.

States That Impose an Inheritance Tax

As mentioned, there are only six states in the U.S. that impose an inheritance tax.

These are the following, including the tax rate they impose:

Iowa - 0 to 15%
Kentucky - 0 to 16%
Maryland - 0 to 10%
Nebraska - 1 to 18%
New Jersey - 0 to 16%
Pennsylvania - 0 to 15%

Note that although these six states collect an inheritance tax, if the deceased person lives outside these states, the beneficiary will not be liable for any inheritance tax.

Also, Maryland is known to be the only state that collects both inheritance and estate taxes.

Ways to Protect Inheritance From Taxes

There are ways to avoid being charged for inheritance taxes. These include the following:

Moving Into a State That Doesn’t Collect Inheritance Tax

Living outside the six states mentioned above is perhaps the cleverest way to avoid being taxed for inheritance but logistically, it is also difficult.

Putting Assets Into a Trust

A trust will allow benefactors to transfer assets to their beneficiaries in the event of death without going through probate requirements.

Gifting the Money to Charity

Aside from being able to extend help to the needy, donating some money to charitable organizations can potentially allow the offsetting of taxable gains on inheritance.

Qualifying the Assets as a Small Estate

Here, the state will define what constitutes a small asset. The property must also meet other qualifications to be considered by the state.

The benefactor can consider gifting a portion of his assets to his beneficiaries annually as long as it does not exceed the threshold for gift exemption.

A reduced estate that doesn't reach the limit will be helpful in avoiding the taxes.

Final Thoughts

Because each country has different laws regarding inheritance tax, it's important that you check out what your home state says before trying to avoid paying any taxes.

Also, please note that the information provided in this article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax advice.

Consulting with a professional or certified public accountant will be helpful for more information on how the inheritance tax works in your home country and state before making any plans to avoid it.

Inheritance Tax FAQs