What changed
The basic exclusion amount is $15,000,000 for people who die in 2026, up from $13,990,000 for 2025. The annual gift exclusion stays at $19,000, and the exclusion for gifts to a spouse who is not a US citizen is $194,000.
Estate Exemption $15 Million in 2026: CPA Notes | HelloBooks The basic exclusion is $15,000,000 for 2026 deaths, and the scheduled drop did not happen. What to tell clients who planned for a sunset.
Estates and gifts · 2026
The estate exemption is $15 million for 2026
Many clients spent 2024 and 2025 planning for an exemption that was scheduled to drop after 2025. It went up instead, so some of that planning needs a second look.
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Basic exclusion, 2026 deaths
$15,000,000
- 2025 deaths
- $13,990,000
- Annual gift exclusion
- $19,000
- Gifts to a non-citizen spouse
- $194,000
Applies: 2026From IRS.gov · checked October 10, 2026
What to tell clients
Clients who made large gifts to lock in the old exemption have not lost anything, but those still deciding no longer face a deadline. Revisit plans built around a sunset date, and check whether trusts drafted with formula clauses still produce the intended split.
Portability still matters for married couples. A timely estate tax return for the first spouse to die preserves the unused exclusion even when no tax is due.
Records to keep current
Keep a running schedule of each client’s taxable gifts and Form 709 filings. For business owners, a clean set of books with year-end balance sheets makes valuations for gifting far easier to support.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- What is the annual gift exclusion for 2026?
- It stays at $19,000 per recipient.
Related
Keep exploring
US tax changes for 2025 and 2026
The plain-English summary for business owners
Tax return changes for trusts and estates
By client type · trusts and estates
AMT for 2026: exemptions and where the phase-out starts
Individuals · alternative minimum tax
Standard deduction and brackets for 2025 and 2026
Reference · 2025 and 2026
Sources
General information for tax professionals, not advice on a specific return. Figures are from IRS.gov on the date shown; check the current IRS instructions before filing.
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