by Nate Putnam, CFP®
Vice President
Portfolio and Wealth Management
Estate tax has been a highly debated topic in Congress for years. With the passing of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in 2017, and the ongoing discussions on extending certain provisions, estate tax is again on the short list for debate. As of recent years, the federal exemption limits have been quite high ($13,990,000 per person in 2025), resulting in fewer estates incurring federal estate taxes. While having an estate tax due at the federal level may be less common, there are seventeen states, plus the District of Columbia, that impose state-level estate and/or inheritance taxes. In most cases, the exemption amounts are considerably lower than the federal limit, but the rules and rates vary by state. Click here to see what your state’s tax brackets are. As an example, in the state of Oregon, individuals have an estate tax exemption amount of only $1 million per person. This means that many individuals who are not exposed to federal estate tax should be planning for state estate taxes.
Not only are debates regarding estate tax happening at the federal level, but they are also occurring at the state level (as we saw in Washington state in May this year). Washington state enacted new legislation that increased the estate tax exemption to $3 million per individual and effectively indexed the exemption amount for inflation moving forward. However, the legislation also increased the marginal tax rates for estate taxes. The chart below outlines the updated Washington state estate tax rates.
*New rates effective July 1, 2025
The change in tax rates, along with the increased $3 million dollar exemption amount, will reduce the tax burden on smaller to mid-sized estates while greatly increasing the tax burden on larger estates. Coupling estate taxes due at both the federal and Washington state levels, large estates could be subject to a total effective rate of close to 60%. It has never been more important to have a plan in place.
The good news is that there are strategies and opportunities to help reduce or eliminate exposure to estate taxes. Trusts and other estate planning and gifting strategies can be used to navigate complex estate tax laws and preserve wealth for future generations. Reviewing and updating your estate plan with your professional team is an important step to ensure your legacy goals are met. Please reach out to your team at Ferguson Wellman and West Bearing Investments if you have questions or would like to discuss planning specific to your situation.
Ferguson Wellman, Octavia Group and West Bearing do not provide tax, legal, insurance or medical advice. This material has been prepared for general educational and informational purposes only and not as a substitute for qualified counsel. You should consult qualified professionals to understand how this information may, or may not, apply specifically to you.