Estate tax due when first spouse dies?

Reader comment on: To Rein in Government Spending, Try The Ellen Stern Test

Submitted by HOWARD (United States), Oct 3, 2017 21:37

Ira, I am confused. I thought the first spouse to die can leave everything to the surviving spouse free of all estate tax. The tax does kick in when the second spouse dies, of course. Or maybe the current problem comes from current bequests to children or others. Please check into the facts here for your readers because I don't think the problem is exactly as described.


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The Future of Capitalism replies:

Several people have raised this issue. I am checking it and will report further what I find out but at least initially it appears that this is a second marriage and there are children from a first marriage, so the estate is being divided and that affects the taxes somehow.

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