Nebraska Estate Tax: Everything You Need to Know

Nebraska does not have an estate tax, though the federal estate tax will apply to Nebraskans if their estate is worth enough. Nebraska also has an inheritance tax to watch out for. This guide will take Cornhusker State residents through the information they need to know about the estate tax if they want their families to be secure and prepared for what will happen after they die. One way to take action on planning your estate is to work with a financial advisor. Try using SmartAsset’s free advisor matching tool.

Nebraska Estate Tax

Nebraska has no estate tax. It is one of 38 states without one.

What Is the Estate Tax?

The estate tax is levied by governments on the estates of people who have recently died, before the assets in the estate are passed on to a person’s legally designated heirs. Sometimes referred to as the “death tax,” the estate tax only applies to estates with values exceeding a certain threshold, which is legally determined by whichever government is levying the tax.

Estate tax and inheritance tax are not the same. The inheritance tax is levied on money already passed from an estate to a person’s heirs. Beneficiaries are responsible for paying the inheritance tax on the assets they inherit.

Nebraska Inheritance and Gift Tax

Nebraska does have an inheritance tax. The rate depends on your relationship to your benefactor. If you leave money to your spouse, there is no inheritance tax. For other relationships, the following rates apply:

Class 1: Parents, siblings, children, grandparents and any spouses/descendants of these relatives. These individuals pay 1% on any value over $40,000.
Class 2: Aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and any spouses/descendants of these relatives. These individuals pay 13% on any value over $15,000.
Class 3: All other heirs. These individuals pay 18% on any value over $10,000.

Nebraska has no gift tax. The federal gift tax has a $18,000 exemption for each person to whom you give gift in 2024, up from $17,000 in 2023. If you gift one person more than $18,000 in 2024, you must report that gift to the IRS. The amount exceeding the exemption counts against your $13.61 million lifetime gift tax exemption. It also reduces your federal estate tax exemption.

Federal Estate Tax

Though Nebraska has no estate tax, the federal government has one that may apply to Nebraska residents with large enough estates. In 2024, the exemption is $13.61 million, up from $12.92 million in 2023. This exemption is portable for married couples, meaning when the first spouse dies they can give their exemption to the second spouse to use when they die. This means that, with the right legal steps, a married couple can protect up to $27.22 million of their estate.

An estate with value exceeding the exemption will owe estate tax. The tax has a series of ascending tax rates, with a top rate of 40%.

Here is an example: Say your estate is worth $21.43 million and you are not married. First, you take out the exemption of $13.61 million, leaving a taxable estate of $7.82 million. You are in the highest tax bracket, and you owe a $345,800 base payment on the first $1 million of your estate. You also owe 40% of the remaining $6.82 million, which comes to $2.728 million. Add the base payment to that figure and your total tax bill comes to $3,073,800 for this 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
Over $1 million	$345,800	40%	$1 million

*The taxable estate is the total above the 2024 federal exemption of $13.61 million.
**The rate threshold is the point at which the marginal estate tax rate kicks in.

Overall Nebraska Tax Picture

Nebraska is a not a tax-friendly state for retirees. The state fully taxes withdrawals from retirement accounts like 401(k) plans and income from both private and public pension plans. Nebraska also taxes any Social Security income that the federal government taxes. The state has a progressive income tax, with rates ranging from 2.46% to 6.64%.

Nebraska’s property taxes are very high. The average effective rate is 1.67%, ninth-highest in the nation.

Estate Planning Tips

A financial advisor can help you build an estate plan. 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.
When planning your estate, make sure you name a guardian for your kids. Not doing so happens to be a common estate planning mistake. Thinking about this isn’t fun, but it beats not having a plan if something were to happen.