The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 and the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 brought important and significant changes to the federal es Tax Year Highest Estate Gift Exemption ($ Tax Rate (%) Estate Exemption Unified or Credit Amount ($ million) million) GST Tax Exemption ($ million) 2001 55 0.675 0.675 0.675 2002 50 1 1 1.00* 2003 49 1 1 1.00* 2004 48 1 1.5 1.5 2005 47 1 1.5 1.5 2006 46 1 2 2 2007 45 1 2 2008 45 1 2 22 2009 45 1 3.5 2010 0 1 Repeal 3.5 Repeal 2011 35 1 5 5 2012 35 5.12 5.12 5.12 2013 40 5.25 5.25 5.25 2014 40 5.34 5.34 5.34 2015 40 5.43 5.43 5.43 2016 40 5.45 5.45 5.45 2017 40 5.49 5.49 5.49 2018 40 11.18 11.18 11.18 2019 40 11.4 11.4 2020 40 11.58 11.58 11.4 11.58 2021 40 11.7 11.7 11.7 *Adjusted annually for inflation. Notes Estate tax exemption rises to $1 million; top estate tax cut to 50%. Top estate tax cut to 49%. Estate tax exemption rises to $1.5 million; top estate tax rate cut to 48%. Top estate tax cut to 47%. Exemption rises to $2 million; top rate declines to 46%. Top rate declines to 45%. No change. Exemption rises to $3.5 million. Estate tax completely repealed. Exemption rises to $5.25 million. Top estate tax rises to 40%. Indexed for inflation each year after 2018 through 2025. These amounts are doubled for a married couple.