The Maryland estate tax applies to estates worth more than $5 million.1 If you live in Maryland and are thinking about estate planning, this guide will walk you through what you need to know about the Maryland estate tax. If you think you’ll need help with planning, consider working with a financial advisor. SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool can help you find up to three advisors who serve your area.
Maryland Estate Tax Exemption
The estate tax is a tax some states and the federal government levy on the estates of wealthy people after they die but before the money is given to their heirs. It is sometimes called the “death tax.”
Don’t confuse the estate tax with the inheritance tax, which is a separate tax some states levy on recipients of an inheritance after it has been passed on.
The estate tax threshold for Maryland is $5 million as of 2024, and has been since 2019. This means that if you die and your total estate is worth less than $5 million, the estate owes nothing at all to the state of Maryland. If your estate is worth more than $5 million, though, there is a progressive tax rate for all wealth above that $5 million mark that your estate will have to pay before money can be dispersed to your heirs.
Maryland Estate Tax Rate
The estate tax rate for Maryland is graduated. In order to determine your Maryland estate tax burden, start by finding your taxable estate bracket on the chart below. The second column shows what the estate owes on money that falls below your bracket. Then figure out how much of your estate falls above the lower limit of your bracket. Multiply that number by the marginal rate, add it to the base rate and you’ll know the estate tax burden.
Here’s an example: Let’s say your total estate is worth $6.5 million. Subtracting the $5 million exemption, leaves a taxable estate of $1.5 million. Next, find where that number falls on the chart. The base taxes paid for the bracket is $38,800. The bottom of the threshold is $1.04 million, so we subtract that from $1.5 million and get $460,000. That figure multiplied by the marginal rate of 6.4% is $29,440. When we add that number to the base taxes paid, we get a total Maryland estate tax of $68,240 on a $5.5 million estate.
Note: The chart below shows no taxes owed on the first $40,000 of taxable income because of a system of tax credits from the state.
Maryland Estate Tax Rates
| Taxable Estate* | Base Taxes Paid | Marginal Rate | Rate Threshold** |
| $0 – $40,000 | $0 | 0% | $0 |
| $40,000 – $90,000 | $0 | 0.8% | $40,000 |
| $90,000 – $140,000 | $400 | 1.6% | $90,000 |
| $140,000 – $240,000 | $1,200 | 2.4% | $140,000 |
| $240,000 – $440,000 | $3,600 | 3.2% | $240,000 |
| $440,000 – $640,000 | $10,000 | 4.0% | $440,000 |
| $640,000 – $840,000 | $18,000 | 4.8% | $6400,000 |
| $840,000 – $1.04 million | $27,600 | 5.6% | $840,000 |
| $1.04 million – $1.54 million | $38,800 | 6.4% | $1.04 million |
| $1.54 million – $2.04 million | $70,800 | 7.2% | $1.54 million |
| $2.04 million – $2.54 million | $106,800 | 8% | $2.04 million |
| $2.54 million – $3.04 million | $146,800 | 8.8% | $2.54 million |
| $3.04 million – $3.54 million | $190,800 | 9.6% | $3.04 million |
| $3.54 million – $4.04 million | $238,800 | 10.4% | $3.54 million |
| $4.04 million – $5.04 million | $290,800 | 11.2% | $4.04 million |
| $5.04 million – $6.04 million | $402,800 | 12% | $5.04 million |
| $6.04 million – $7.04 million | $522,800 | 12.8% | $6.04 million |
| $7.04 million – $8.04 million | $650,800 | 13.6% | $7.04 million |
| $8.04 million – $9.04 million | $786,800 | 14.4% | $8.04 million |
| $9.04 million – $10.04 million | $903,800 | 15.2% | $9.04 million |
| $10.04 million and up | $1,082,800 | 16% | $10.04 million |
*The taxable estate is the total above the exemption of $5 million.
**The rate threshold is the point at which the marginal estate tax rate goes into effect.
Maryland Inheritance Tax
Maryland also has an inheritance tax. If the inheritor is the deceased’s child or direct descendent, the spouse of a child or direct descendent, a spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, stepchild or stepparent, the inheritance tax does not apply. If money is left to anyone else there is a 10% Maryland inheritance tax.
Maryland Gift Tax
Maryland does not have a gift tax. The federal gift tax exemption is $18,000 in 2024, up from $17,000 in 2023. A gift to one person worth more than that in a single year counts against your 2024 lifetime exemption of $13.61 million.
Maryland Estate Tax for Married Couples
The Maryland estate tax is portable, meaning that a married couple can protect up to $10 million when both spouses die.
Federal Estate Tax
There is also a federal estate tax that may apply, but it has a much higher exemption. The federal estate tax exemption is $13.61 million for deaths in 2024, up from $12.92 million for deaths in 2023. It is also portable.2 This means spouses can both take advantage of it, meaning married couples can protect from taxes up to $27.22 million.
If an estate exceeds that amount, the tax rates range from 18% to 40%. A full chart of federal estate tax rates is below. You can use the same method described in the Maryland Estate Tax section to figure out the federal estate tax burden based on the table below.3
Federal Estate Tax Rates
| Taxable Estate* | Base Taxes Paid | Marginal Rate | Rate Threshold** |
| $1 – $10,000 | $0 | 18% | $1 |
| $10,000 – $20,000 | $1,800 | 20% | $10,000 |
| $20,000 – $40,000 | $3,800 | 22% | $20,000 |
| $40,000 – $60,000 | $8,200 | 24% | $40,000 |
| $60,000 – $80,000 | $13,000 | 26% | $60,000 |
| $80,000 – $100,000 | $18,200 | 28% | $80,000 |
| $100,000 – $150,000 | $23,800 | 30% | $100,000 |
| $150,000 – $250,000 | $38,800 | 32% | $150,000 |
| $250,000 – $500,000 | $70,800 | 34% | $250,000 |
| $500,000 – $750,000 | $155,800 | 37% | $500,000 |
| $750,000 – $1 million | $248,300 | 39% | $750,000 |
| Over $1 million | $345,800 | 40% | $1 million |
*The taxable estate is the total above the 2024 exemption of $13.61 million.
**The rate threshold is the point at which the marginal estate tax rate kicks in.
Overall Maryland Tax Picture
Maryland is moderately tax-friendly for retirees. Social Security is not taxed but other retirement income is. Maryland’s income tax rates ranges from 2% to 5.75%. Additionally, it is one of a few states in the nation where local governments can levy their own income tax. If you’re new to Maryland or have a new job, you can figure out what your take home pay will be, using our Maryland paycheck calculator.
The average effective property tax rate in Maryland is 1.07%. That’s around the national average, but home values in Maryland do tend to be higher.
Estate Planning Tips
- If you need help figuring out estate planning or any other financial questions, you may want to work with a financial advisor. Finding a financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to three vetted financial advisors who serve your area, and you can have a free introductory call with your advisor matches to decide which one you feel is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- There are many different ways to plan an estate, from a simple will to a living trust. Don’t get too focused on one way of planning your estate; instead, figure out what’s best for your specific situation and avoid these common estate planning errors.
Sources
- “Estate and Inheritance Tax Information.” Comptroller of Maryland. https://marylandtaxes.gov/individual/estate-inheritance/estate-inheritance-tax.php.
- “Frequently Asked Questions on Estate Taxes.” Internal Revenue Service, August 9, 2023. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-estate-taxes.
- “Estate Tax.” Internal Revenue Service, October 26, 2022. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-tax.
Photo credit: ©iStock.com/PeopleImages, SmartAsset, ©iStock.com/btgbtg