The estate tax rate in Oregon ranges from 10% to 16% and applies to estates above $1 million.1 If you are estate planning in Oregon and your estate is worth more than $1 million, you’ll have to consider the impact of the tax on your estate. If you think you might be subject to the estate tax, you may want to consider enlisting the help of a financial advisor by using SmartAsset’s free financial advisor matching tool.
Oregon Estate Tax Exemption
The Oregon estate tax threshold is $1 million. Any estate exceeding that amount that is taxable, but the first $1 million is still not taxed.
Oregon Estate Tax Rate
The estate tax rate for Oregon is graduated. It starts at 10% and goes up to 16%. The taxable estate is the value of the estate above the $1 million exemption.
Here’s how to figure out what your estate will be paying: First, figure out what your taxable estate is. Next, find your taxable estate bracket in the chart below. The base taxes listed in the second column is what you owe on money that falls below your tax bracket. Then figure out by how much your estate exceeds the lower limit of your bracket and multiply that number by the marginal rate. Add that sum to your base taxes and that’s how much you owe in estate taxes.
Here’s an example: Let’s say your total estate is worth $5 million. If we subtract the $1 million exemption, that leaves a taxable estate of $4 million. The base tax for the bracket is $367,500. The bottom of the threshold is $3.5 million, so we subtract that from $4 million and get $500,000. That amount multiplied by the marginal rate of 11.5% is $57,500. When we add that number ($57,500) to the base tax ($367,500), we get a total Oregon estate tax of $425,000 owed on a $5 million estate.
Oregon Estate Tax Rates
| Taxable Estate* | Base Taxes Paid | Marginal Rate | Rate Threshold** |
| $0 – $500k | $0 | 10% | $0 |
| $500k – $1.5 million | $50k | 10.3% | $500k |
| $1.5 million – $2.5 million | $152.5k | 10.5% | $1.5 million |
| $2.5 million – $3.5 million | $257.5k | 11% | $2.5 million |
| $3.5 million – $4.5 million | $367.5k | 11.5% | $3.5 million |
| $4.5 million – $5.5 million | $482.5k | 12% | $4.5 million |
| $5.5 million – $6.5 million | $602.5k | 13% | $5.5 million |
| $6.5 million – $7.5 million | $732.5k | 14% | $6.5 million |
| $7.5 million – $8.5 million | $872.5k | 15% | $7.5 million |
| $8.5 million and up | $1.0225 million | 16% | $8.5 million |
*The taxable estate is the amount above the exemption of $1 million.
**The rate threshold is the point at which the marginal estate tax rate goes into effect.
What Is the Estate Tax?
Estate tax is a tax charged to the estates of the recently deceased. Governments that have an estate tax generally have an exemption that guarantees that only the estates of the relatively wealthy will end up actually paying the tax.
Estate tax is different from the inheritance tax. Inheritance tax is paid by a person’s heirs after they’ve already received their money, whereas the estate tax is owed before the money is disbursed to heirs.
Oregon Inheritance Tax
Oregon does not have an inheritance tax. The state’s estate tax used to be called an inheritance tax, but was still an estate tax in practice.
If you’re inheriting property or money from someone who lives out of state, make sure to check local laws. For example, Pennsylvania has an inheritance tax that may apply to you if you’re inheriting from someone who called the Keystone State home even if you live in another state.2
Oregon Gift Tax
Oregon does not have a gift tax. The federal gift tax only applies to gifts over $18,000 in 2024 or $17,000 in 2023. Any gift exceeding this amount to one person in a calendar year counts against your 2024 lifetime exemption of $13.61 million.
Oregon Estate Tax for Married Couples
The estate tax is not applied when a surviving spouse is inheriting all of a person’s wealth. When the second spouse dies, though, the estate is still only allowed to apply a $1 million exemption for the purpose of the Oregon estate tax. The estate does not get to apply the $1 million exemption for both partners.
Federal Estate Tax
There is also a federal estate tax with an exemption of $13.61 million in 2024 and $12.92 million in 2023. On the federal level, the estate tax exemption is portable between spouses. With the right legal steps both spouses’ exemptions can apply to their estate, creating a total exemption of $27.22 million in 2024.3
For those estates that still exceed this amount, the tax rate tops out at 40%. The chart below has the full list of graduated tax rates.
You can follow the same process described above in the Oregon Estate Tax section and use the table below to figure out your federal estate tax burden.4
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 – $1,000,000 | $248,300 | 39% | $750,000 |
| Over $1,000,000 | $345,800 | 40% | $1,000,000 |
*The taxable estate is the total above the exemption of $13.61 million.
**The rate threshold is the point at which the marginal estate tax rate kicks in.
Overall Oregon Tax Picture
Oregon is moderately-tax friendly for retirees. The state doesn’t tax Social Security, but retirement accounts are fully taxed. Pensions are partially taxed. Income tax in Oregon is progressive, with a top marginal tax rate of 9.90%. There is no state or local sales tax. The average property tax rate in Oregon is 0.93%, slightly below the national average.
You can use SmartAsset’s Oregon paycheck calculator to help you calculate your take home pay in the Beaver State.
Resources for Estate Planning Help
- If you have questions about estate planning or other financial planning issues, you could consider working 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 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.
- Part of planning your estate is planning for how you’ll live in your golden years. To make sure you understand what your finances will look like when you stop working, use this SmartAsset retirement calculator.
- You never know when tragedy might strike and you’ll need someone else to make decisions for you and your estate. You should consider drafting a living will to make sure everything will be taken care of the way you want it to be.
Sources
- “Estate Transfer and Fiduciary Income Taxes.” Oregon Department of Revenue. https://www.oregon.gov/dor/programs/businesses/pages/estate.aspx.
- Pennsylvania Department of Revenue. “Inheritance Tax.” https://www.revenue.pa.gov:443/TaxTypes/InheritanceTax/Pages/default.aspx.
- “Frequently Asked Questions on Estate Taxes.” Internal Revenue Service, November 21, 2023. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-estate-taxes.
- “Estate Tax.” Internal Revenue Service, November 23, 2023. https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/estate-tax.
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