New York Estate Tax Calculator (2026): Estimate What the Estate Owes
Figures verified October 17, 2026 against New York Department of Taxation and Finance · Update log
Short answer
Yes. For deaths in 2026, New York taxes estates over $7,350,000 at 3.06% to 16%. New York has a cliff: above $7,717,500 (105% of the exemption) the whole estate is taxed, not just the part over $7,350,000. The executor files ET-706 and pays from the estate, due 9 months after the date of death. Federal estate tax applies only above $15 million, so most estates that owe New York tax owe nothing federally.
New York estate tax calculator
Enter values at the date of death. Rough numbers are fine; type 450000, 450k or 2.5m. Leave anything that does not apply blank.
New York has a cliff. At or under $7,350,000 there is no tax. Between $7,350,000 and $7,717,500 (105%) the credit shrinks fast, and above $7,717,500 there is no credit at all: the whole estate is taxed from the first dollar, not just the part over the exemption.
How the New York estate tax is calculated
The starting point is the taxable estate: everything the person owned at death (the gross estate), minus debts and mortgages, funeral and administration costs, and what passes to a surviving spouse or to charity. The house, bank and brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, business interests and life insurance the person owned all count, including accounts that pass straight to a named beneficiary.
New York applies its rate table to the whole taxable estate, from the first dollar, then subtracts an applicable credit. At or under the $7,350,000 basic exclusion, the credit cancels the tax. Between $7,350,000 and $7,717,500 the credit shrinks on a sliding scale (the Form ET-706 worksheet), and above that there is no credit at all.
New York tax table (applied to the whole estate)
| Taxable estate over | Up to | Rate on that slice |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $500,000 | 3.06% |
| $500,000 | $1,000,000 | 5% |
| $1,000,000 | $1,500,000 | 5.5% |
| $1,500,000 | $2,100,000 | 6.5% |
| $2,100,000 | $2,600,000 | 8% |
| $2,600,000 | $3,100,000 | 8.8% |
| $3,100,000 | $3,600,000 | 9.6% |
| $3,600,000 | $4,100,000 | 10.4% |
| $4,100,000 | $5,100,000 | 11.2% |
| $5,100,000 | $6,100,000 | 12% |
| $6,100,000 | $7,100,000 | 12.8% |
| $7,100,000 | $8,100,000 | 13.6% |
| $8,100,000 | $9,100,000 | 14.4% |
| $9,100,000 | $10,100,000 | 15.2% |
| $10,100,000 | and above | 16% |
Worked example: a $7.8 million New York estate
A Westchester widow dies with a $2.5 million house, $3.5 million of brokerage accounts, a $1.4 million IRA and a $400,000 life insurance policy she owned. Debts are $150,000 and costs $150,000, leaving a $7,500,000 taxable estate, inside the cliff band.
Step by step
| Everything the person owned (gross estate) | $7,800,000 |
| Debts and mortgages | − $150,000 |
| Funeral and administration costs | − $150,000 |
| Taxable estate | $7,500,000 |
| State exemption (2026 deaths) | $7,350,000 |
| Tax from the table on the whole estate | $705,200 |
| Applicable credit (table tax on the exemption x 0.5918) | − $318,770 |
| Estimated state estate tax | $386,430 |
Bracket by bracket
New York rates applied to the whole New York taxable estate, from the first dollar. Amounts are shown in estate dollars.
| Slice of the estate | Amount | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 to $500,000 | $500,000 | 3.06% | $15,300 |
| $500,000 to $1,000,000 | $500,000 | 5% | $25,000 |
| $1,000,000 to $1,500,000 | $500,000 | 5.5% | $27,500 |
| $1,500,000 to $2,100,000 | $600,000 | 6.5% | $39,000 |
| $2,100,000 to $2,600,000 | $500,000 | 8% | $40,000 |
| $2,600,000 to $3,100,000 | $500,000 | 8.8% | $44,000 |
| $3,100,000 to $3,600,000 | $500,000 | 9.6% | $48,000 |
| $3,600,000 to $4,100,000 | $500,000 | 10.4% | $52,000 |
| $4,100,000 to $5,100,000 | $1,000,000 | 11.2% | $112,000 |
| $5,100,000 to $6,100,000 | $1,000,000 | 12% | $120,000 |
| $6,100,000 to $7,100,000 | $1,000,000 | 12.8% | $128,000 |
| $7,100,000 to $7,500,000 | $400,000 | 13.6% | $54,400 |
| Total from the brackets | $705,200 | ||
The bracket total differs from the tax because of the credit or limit shown in the steps above.
Result: New York estate tax of $386,430, or 5.2% of the $7,500,000 taxable estate. No federal estate tax, because the estate is under $15 million. New York requires Form ET-706 when the gross estate plus taxable gifts made in the 3 years before death is over the $7,350,000 basic exclusion.
The same estate $300,000 larger, above the cliff: New York tax of $746,000, an extra $359,570. Adding $300,000 to the estate added $359,570 of tax, because above $7,717,500 the whole estate is taxed.
Ways the number can change
- The cliff. Between $7,350,000 and $7,717,500 the credit shrinks fast, and above $7,717,500 it is gone. Small changes in appraised values or deductions near that band can swing the tax by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
- Gifts in the last 3 years. Taxable gifts made while a New York resident in the 3 years before death are added back, for deaths before January 1, 2032. Gifts made before April 1, 2014, between January 1 and January 15, 2019, or of real or tangible property located outside New York are left out.
- No portability. New York does not let a surviving spouse use the late spouse's unused New York exemption.
- Real estate in another state. If the person owned a house or land in another state, New York's figure can come down and the other state may want its own return. Most estate-tax states tax a resident's out-of-state real estate only in part or not at all, so give the preparer the addresses and values.
- Values at the date of death. The return uses appraised fair market values on the date of death. A house or business valued differently from your estimate moves the tax, at the New York rate on that slice.
What the executor files, and when
- New York ET-706: due 9 months after the date of death. New York requires Form ET-706 when the gross estate plus taxable gifts made in the 3 years before death is over the $7,350,000 basic exclusion.
- File Form ET-706 with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Form ET-133 requests an extension of time to file or pay. New York Department of Taxation and Finance.
- Federal Form 706: only if the estate is over $15 million, or to elect portability for a surviving spouse. Due 9 months after the date of death (an automatic 6-month extension to file is available on Form 4768).
Optional: get help filing
Get a flat-fee quote to file the New York estate tax return
Tell us a little about the estate and a CPA or Enrolled Agent who prepares New York ET-706 returns will reply with a fixed price. Free, and no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
How much is New York estate tax on a $7.5 million estate?
About $386,000 on a $7,500,000 taxable estate, and about $773,000 on $8,000,000. That assumes a New York resident with everything in New York and no lifetime gifts. The taxable estate is what is left after debts, funeral and administration costs, and what goes to a spouse or charity.
Does New York have an inheritance tax?
No. New York has an estate tax, paid out of the estate before heirs receive their shares, and no inheritance tax. Heirs do not pay New York tax on what they receive.
Who files the New York estate tax return, and when is it due?
The executor (personal representative) files ET-706, due 9 months after the date of death. File Form ET-706 with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Form ET-133 requests an extension of time to file or pay.
Does the estate have to file if it owes no New York tax?
New York requires Form ET-706 when the gross estate plus taxable gifts made in the 3 years before death is over the $7,350,000 basic exclusion.
How does the New York estate tax cliff work?
New York's tax table applies to the whole estate, and a credit cancels it for estates up to the $7,350,000 basic exclusion. Between $7,350,000 and $7,717,500 the credit is reduced on a sliding scale, and above $7,717,500 there is no credit, so the entire estate is taxed. A $7,800,000 estate owes about $746,000.
Are gifts added back to a New York estate?
Yes, for deaths before January 1, 2032: taxable gifts made in the 3 years before death while the person was a New York resident are added to the New York taxable estate, with a few exceptions listed in the Form ET-706 instructions.
Are life insurance and retirement accounts part of the estate?
Yes. Retirement accounts count at their full balance, and life insurance counts if the person owned the policy or it paid the estate, even when a named beneficiary receives the money. Income tax on withdrawals from an inherited IRA is separate and is paid by the heir.
Will the estate owe federal estate tax as well?
Only if it is over $15,000,000 for 2026 deaths. New York's exemption is $7,350,000, so many estates owe New York tax and no federal tax. The New York tax paid is deductible on the federal return.
How accurate is this calculator?
It uses New York's official rate table for 2026 deaths. It assumes the person lived in New York with everything located there, and it uses the values you enter. The real return uses appraised values at the date of death and can include items it does not model, such as property in other states, state-only elections and credits for tax paid to other states.
Sources
- 1.NYS Tax Department: Form ET-706 instructions (credit worksheet, gift add-back)tax.ny.gov
- 2.NYS Tax Department: TSB-M-14(6)M (rate table and credit examples)tax.ny.gov
- 3.NYS Tax Department: estate taxtax.ny.gov
- 4.New York Department of Taxation and Financetax.ny.gov
- 5.IRS: Estate Taxirs.gov
- 6.IRS: Instructions for Form 706irs.gov
This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to your situation.