Estate Tax

For decedents and gifts made in the current year, a unified credit is allowed which is the equivalent of a $5,120,000 dollar exemption is subtracted from the tax calculated on the taxable estate. For 2012 the $5 Million exemption may be increased for inflation. New for 2011 and 2012 is a concept named portability which allows a surviving spouse's estate to use any portion of the exemption amount not used by the other spouse’s estate.