What is Connecticut's estate tax exemption?

Connecticut phased its estate tax exemption up to match the federal estate tax exclusion, which is about 13.61 million dollars for 2024. Estates below the exemption owe no Connecticut estate tax, and only the amount above it is taxable.

What rate does Connecticut use for estate tax?

Connecticut applies a flat 12 percent rate to the value of the taxable estate above the exemption. Earlier years used a graduated schedule, but the state moved to a single flat rate, so the tax is the taxable amount over the exemption multiplied by 0.12.

Is there a cap on Connecticut estate tax?

Yes. Connecticut caps the total estate and gift tax at a statutory maximum, currently 15 million dollars. Even very large estates cannot owe more than this combined cap, which is unusual among states that levy an estate tax.

Does Connecticut have an inheritance tax?

No. Connecticut levies an estate tax paid by the estate, not an inheritance tax paid by beneficiaries. Heirs do not separately owe Connecticut tax on what they receive, though federal rules and other states may differ.

Is this calculator a substitute for an estate attorney?

No. It is an educational estimate using the headline exemption, flat rate, and cap. Deductions, the unified gift and estate framework, portability, and valuation are complex, so consult a Connecticut estate attorney or CPA before relying on any figure.

Connecticut Estate Tax Calculator

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Connecticut is one of a handful of states with its own estate tax. The exemption was raised to match the federal exclusion (about 13.61 million dollars in 2024), the rate is a flat 12% on the taxable estate above the exemption, and there’s a statutory cap on total estate and gift tax. This tool estimates the liability.

How it works

The taxable estate is the gross estate minus deductions; tax applies only to the portion above the exemption, then is capped:

taxable estate = gross estate − deductions
amount over    = max(0, taxable estate − exemption)
estate tax     = amount over × 12%
estate tax     = min(estate tax, statutory cap)

Estates at or below the exemption owe nothing. The cap means even the largest estates pay no more than the statutory maximum (currently 15 million dollars).

Example and notes

A 20 million dollar taxable estate with the 13.61 million exemption has 20,000,000 − 13,610,000 = 6,390,000 over the threshold. At 12% that’s 6,390,000 × 0.12 = 766,800 dollars — well under the cap, so the cap doesn’t bind. Deductions such as the marital and charitable deductions can sharply reduce the taxable estate. This is an educational estimate; consult a Connecticut estate attorney for planning.