Question

Is the Maryland estate tax exemption the same as the federal exemption?

Answer

No. The Maryland estate tax exemption is $5 million per individual, which is not indexed for inflation and changes only through legislation. The federal estate tax exemption, permanently raised to $15 million per individual by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025, is significantly higher. That $10-million gap means Maryland residents with estates between $5 million and $15 million may owe Maryland estate tax even when no federal estate tax is due — making state-specific estate planning essential.

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