The lifetime estate and gift tax exemption in 2026 is $15 million per individual, or $30 million per married couple, indexed for inflation.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) made this higher exemption permanent, so it applies to both lifetime gifts and estates at death.
Portability remains available, meaning a surviving spouse can use the deceased spouse’s unused exemption with a proper Form 706 filing. This permanence helps give you the confidence to plan long-term, but gifting strategies still matter for appreciation transfer and state-level exposure. Review your plan with an estate specialist.
We exist so you don’t have to worry about money. For more than 40 years, we’ve taken the sophisticated, time-tested approach that many ultra-high net worth individuals use to help manage their financial lives and made it accessible to more families.
