Massachusetts levies an estate tax on estates worth more than $2 million. The progressive estate tax rates top out at 16%. Estate planning can take a lot of work and a lot of knowledge. If you’re living in the Bay State and are looking for information about the Massachusetts estate tax, this guide has all the information you’ll need. If you need help navigating the estate tax or any other financial planning issues, you may want to enlist the help of a financial advisor by using SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool.
What Is the Estate Tax?
The estate tax is levied against certain estates after a person has died, but before the money has been passed on to their heirs. It only applies to estates that have reached a certain threshold of wealth, which varies based on which state government is levying the tax. Therefore Massachusetts has its own set of unique tax brackets compared to other states. Then, there is also a federal estate tax.
The estate tax is different from the inheritance tax. This is instead paid by the decedent’s heirs after they receive their inheritance from the estate.
Massachusetts Estate Tax Exemption
The Massachusetts estate tax exemption is $2 million. This means that if your estate is worth more than $2 million when you die, money will be owed to the state before it’s disbursed to your heirs. However, if it’s smaller than $2 million, then no state estate taxes will be owed.
Unlike many other state-level estate taxes, the Massachusetts estate tax applies to the entire estate, not just the amount above the exemption. This means if your estate is worth $2.5 million, the tax applies to all $2.5 million, not just the $500,000 above the exemption. However, the state does provide a credit of $99,600 to filers.
The Massachusetts estate tax exemption is not portable between spouses. When the second of two spouses dies, the exemption is still only $2 million.
Massachusetts Estate Tax Rates
The estate tax rate for Massachusetts is graduated. The table below lists all of the rates. To figure out how much your estate will need to pay in estate taxes, first find your taxable estate bracket in the chart below. In the second column, you’ll see the base taxes owed on assets that falls within your bracket. The third column shows your marginal rate. Multiply that rate by any wealth held above the rate threshold listed in the fourth column. Finally, add that number to the base taxes to get your total Massachusetts estate tax burden.
Massachusetts 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% | $640,000 |
| $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 | 8.0% | $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 | 12.0% | $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 & up | $1,082,800 | 16.0% | $10.04 million |
*The rate threshold is the point at which the marginal estate tax rate goes into effect.
Here’s an example of how the table above works: Let’s say your total estate is worth $6.2 million. The estate tax applies to the entire value of the estate. Next, find where that number falls on the chart. The base tax for your bracket would be $522,800. The bottom of the threshold is $6.04 million, so we subtract that from $6.2 million and get $160,000. That amount multiplied by the marginal rate of 12.8% is $20,480. When we add that number ($20,480) to the base taxes ($522,800), we get a total Massachusetts estate tax of $543,280 owed on a $6.2 million estate.
Massachusetts Inheritance and Gift Taxes
Massachusetts does not have an inheritance tax. If you’re inheriting money from someone who lived out of state, though, check the local laws. In Kentucky, all in-state property is subject to the inheritance tax, regardless of where the heir lives.
Massachusetts also does not have its own gift tax. The federal gift tax exemption is $18,000 in 2024 and $17,000 in 2023. Any amount gifted to an individual person over that counts against your 2024 lifetime exemption of $13.61 million.
Federal Estate Taxes
The federal estate tax has a much higher exemption level than the Massachusetts’ estate tax. The estate tax exemption is $13.61 million for 2024. Unlike the Massachusetts estate tax exemption, the federal exemption is portable between spouses. This means that with the right legal steps, a married couple can protect up to $27.22 million upon the death of both spouses in 2024.
If an estate exceeds that amount, the top tax rate is 40%. A full chart of federal estate tax rates is below. By following the same method described in the Massachusetts Estate Tax section, you can use the table below to figure out your federal estate tax burden.
Note that for this tax, only the amount above the exemption is taxed. To find your burden, make sure you subtract the exemption total from the total estate to find your taxable estate.
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 |
| $1 million & up | $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 goes into effect.
Overall Massachusetts Tax Picture
The Bay State is moderately tax-friendly for retirees. Social Security payments and public pensions are exempt from taxes, but other retirement income and pension payments are taxed fully. Massachusetts has a flat income tax rate of 5%, one of the highest among states that have a flat rate. If you’re new to the state and want to calculate your take home pay, you can use SmartAsset’s Massachusetts paycheck calculator.
Sales tax is 6.25%, with no additional local sales taxes. Property taxes in Massachusetts come in at an average effective rate of 1.20%.
Estate Planning Tips
- If building an estate plan feels overwhelming, consider working with a professional. 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 interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. If you’re ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.
- One common mistake is thinking that planning an estate is just for the super rich. In reality, everyone can benefit from planning an estate, so think about coming up with a plan no matter what your financial situation is.
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