North Dakota Estate Tax: Everything You Need to Know

There is no estate tax in North Dakota. The federal government has an estate tax, though, and it may apply to North Dakotans if their estate is of sufficient value. This guide is for Roughrider State residents who are looking for the information needed to effectively plan their estate and make sure their assets are protected and their families are prepared when they die. One of the best ways to prepare for the estate tax and other potential estate planning pitfalls is to hire a financial advisor. SmartAsset can help you find one with our free financial advisor matching tool.

North Dakota Estate Tax

North Dakota has no estate tax. It is one of 38 states in the nation that does not have one.

What Is the Estate Tax?

State and federal governments levy the estate tax on estates of people who have recently died. The money and assets in the estate are taxed before they are passed on to the person’s designated heirs. The estate tax, sometimes referred to as the “death tax,” only applies to estates that reach a certain threshold. The government levying the estate tax legally determines this threshold.

Estate tax and inheritance tax are not the same thing. Inheritance tax applies to an inheritance after an heir receives it.

North Dakota Inheritance and Gift Tax

There is also no inheritance tax in North Dakota. You should know that another state’s inheritance tax may apply, however, if your benefactor lived in a state that does have one. In Kentucky, for instance, the inheritance tax applies to all in-state property, even if the inheritor lives out of state. Check local laws if you receive an inheritance from someone from another state. You don’t want to end up missing a tax payment you should have made.

North Dakota also has no gift tax. There is a federal gift tax with an exemption of $18,000 per gift recipient in 2024, going up to $17,000 in 2023. This means you can give up to $18,000 to as many discrete individuals as you want with no gift tax implications. If you give any one person more than $18,000, however, you must report the gift to the IRS. The excess counts against your lifetime gift tax exemption and reduces your federal estate tax exemption.

Federal Estate Tax

Just because North Dakota doesn’t levy an estate tax doesn’t mean there’s no way you’ll have to pay an estate tax. The federal government has an estate tax that may apply to you if your estate is worth enough. The federal estate tax exemption is $13.61 million for 2024 and will increase to $12.92 million for 2023. The exemption is portable, allowing one spouse to pass it to the other to be used when the second spouse dies. A couple can protect up to $27.22 million with the right legal maneuvers.

Estates that are worth more than the exemption are subject to a progressive tax. The top rate is 40%.

Here’s how it works: Consider an estate worth $21.43 million, where the deceased was not married. Once you take out the $13.61 million exemption, you’re left with a taxable estate of $7.82 million. This puts the estate in the top tax bracket. The base taxes on the first $1 million are $345,800. There’s a 40% tax on the remaining $6.82 million, which totals $2.728 million. Add back the base payment and the total estate tax burden comes to $3,073,800.

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 North Dakota Tax Picture

North Dakota has moderately tax-friendly policies for retirees. The state fully taxes withdrawals from retirement accounts like 401(k) plans. It used partially taxes Social Security benefits, but all Social security income is tax-free.

The average effective property tax rate in North Dakota is 1.00%, placing it near the middle of the pack compared to other states.

Estate Planning Tips

A financial advisor can help you with estate planning. 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.