In tough times, understanding inheritance tax basics can ease the burden for grieving loved ones, making the financial aspect of challenging moments more manageable.
What Is an Inheritance Tax?
An individual may face an inheritance tax liability upon inheriting money or assets. This tax is akin to estate taxes, which may be more familiar to many Americans.
Inheritance Taxes vs. Estate Taxes
An estate tax is the responsibility of the estate itself. The executor of the estate needs to pay these taxes before making any distributions to the inheritors.
Inheritance tax, unlike estate tax, falls on the inheritor, similar to income tax. It's paid after the estate distributes the inheritance and is less common in the US, collected by only six states.
How Does Inheritance Tax Work?
For starters, beneficiaries don't owe anything on inheritance below a certain threshold; assets beyond that threshold typically incur tax along a sliding scale.
The beneficiary's relationship to the decedent can also affect the tax rate: for instance, spouses do not owe an inheritance tax in any of the six states that collect it.