The gross estate can exceed probate property
Federal inclusion can depend on ownership and control, including some jointly held property, retirement accounts, business interests, and life insurance even when assets pass by beneficiary designation.
2026 federal estate, gifting, portability, and liquidity plan
Trace the estate from gross assets to beneficiary value
Combine asset categories, growth, debts, administration, charitable and marital deductions, 2026 basic exclusion, DSUE portability, lifetime taxable gifts, annual gifting, state estate tax, federal tax, and settlement liquidity.
Plan with context
Estate tax, beneficiary value, and settlement liquidity are three separate planning questions.
A balance sheet may be large without being taxable, taxable without being liquid, or liquid without passing under the will. The workspace keeps those distinctions visible through a planning horizon.
Deductions precede the exclusion
Modeled debts, administration, qualifying charitable transfers, and qualifying marital transfers reduce the estate used for the simplified federal calculation before remaining exclusion is applied.
Lifetime gifts use the same transfer-tax system
Taxable gifts above annual exclusions can consume lifetime exclusion even when no gift tax was paid at the time. Prior filings and valuation records matter.
Portability requires administration
A deceased spouse's unused exclusion is not automatically available in every case. A timely or otherwise permitted estate-tax return election and accurate records may be necessary.
State estate tax can start much lower
A state exemption can be far below the federal amount, and some jurisdictions use graduated rates, inheritance taxes, lookback rules, or deductions different from the federal system.
Liquidity determines how obligations are paid
Real estate and private businesses can create wealth without settlement cash. Taxes, debts, expenses, equalization, and continuing operations may require insurance, reserves, borrowing, or asset sales.
Included
Seven gross-asset categories, compound growth, debts, administration and funeral costs, charitable and marital transfers, editable 2026 federal basic exclusion, DSUE, prior taxable gifts, annual gifts per recipient using a $19,000 exclusion assumption, state exemption and simplified rate, federal top-rate estimate, projected liquidity, beneficiary transfers, Chart.js allocation and estate paths, and an annual ledger.
Not included
Form 706 tentative-tax tables and credit calculation, gift splitting, GST tax, valuation discounts, alternate valuation, community property, QTIP and trust mechanics, basis step-up, income in respect of a decedent, retirement beneficiary tax, foreign status, special-use valuation, installment tax, state-specific graduated rules, probate, or legal document review.
Use it well
Reconcile ownership and beneficiary designations, locate prior gift-tax returns, document values and basis, verify portability, stress business and property liquidity, obtain current state advice, and coordinate the plan with an estate attorney, CPA, and insurance professional.