Although you don't have to pay any federal estate taxes until your taxable estate exceeds $5.43 million (the limit for 2015), you might be surprised by all the things the government counts in getting there. In addition, 15 states and the District of Columbia have their own estate taxes, and most kick in at a much lower level.
In the worksheet below, the ownership column is included because how you own property is pivotal to how much of its value will be included in your estate when you die. In the "value" column, include the following:
- The full value of property of which you are the sole owner
- Half the value of property you own jointly with your spouse with right of survivorship
- Your share of property owned with others
- Half the value of community property if you live in a community-property state
Also include the value of the proceeds of an insurance policy on your life if you own the policy, your vested interest in pension and profit-sharing plans, and the value of property in revocable trusts.
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| ASSETS | VALUE | WHO OWNS IT |
| Cash in checking, savings, money-market accounts | Row 1 - Cell 1 | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
| Stocks | Row 2 - Cell 1 | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| Bonds | Row 3 - Cell 1 | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
| Mutual funds | Row 4 - Cell 1 | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| Other investments | Row 5 - Cell 1 | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
| Real estate | Row 6 - Cell 1 | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
| Personal property (including furniture, cars, clothing, etc.) | Row 7 - Cell 1 | Row 7 - Cell 2 |
| Art, antiques, collectibles | Row 8 - Cell 1 | Row 8 - Cell 2 |
| Proceeds of life insurance policies you own on your life | Row 9 - Cell 1 | Row 9 - Cell 2 |
| Pension and profit-sharing benefits, IRAs, etc. | Row 10 - Cell 1 | Row 10 - Cell 2 |
| Business interests | Row 11 - Cell 1 | Row 11 - Cell 2 |
| Money owed to you | Row 12 - Cell 1 | Row 12 - Cell 2 |
| Other | Row 13 - Cell 1 | Row 13 - Cell 2 |
| TOTAL ASSETS | Row 14 - Cell 1 | Row 14 - Cell 2 |
| LIABILITIES | Row 0 - Cell 1 | Row 0 - Cell 2 |
| Mortgages | Row 1 - Cell 1 | Row 1 - Cell 2 |
| Loans and notes | Row 2 - Cell 1 | Row 2 - Cell 2 |
| Taxes | Row 3 - Cell 1 | Row 3 - Cell 2 |
| Consumer debt | Row 4 - Cell 1 | Row 4 - Cell 2 |
| Other | Row 5 - Cell 1 | Row 5 - Cell 2 |
| TOTAL LIABILITIES | Row 6 - Cell 1 | Row 6 - Cell 2 |
NET ESTATE (total assets minus total liabilities):