Unless you’re reading this from the deck of your superyacht, you probably don’t have to worry about federal estate taxes. In 2025, only estates worth $13.99 million or more ($27.98 million or more for a married couple) are hit by federal estate taxes, and only a small percentage of Americans have accumulated that much wealth.
State taxes are another story. Several states have reduced or eliminated their estate and inheritance taxes to dissuade well-off retirees from moving to more tax-friendly jurisdictions.
However, 12 states and Washington, D.C., still impose an estate tax, and five states have an inheritance tax. Maryland has both…