Illustration comparing estate tax vs inheritance tax — a home passed from an older hand to a younger hand with a will document and a US map
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Estate Tax vs Inheritance Tax 2026: Who Pays and When

BySW Accounting admin

Estate tax vs inheritance tax — who actually pays, and when? The estate tax vs inheritance tax distinction is simple in principle: the estate pays estate tax before assets are distributed; the beneficiary pays inheritance tax after they receive them. In 2026 the federal estate tax exemption sits at $15 million per person (IRS Rev….