Attention Washington residents: Did you know our state has its own estate tax that kicks in at just $3 million? That threshold includes the value of real estate and life insurance payouts—even if your family never actually sees that cash.

And the tax rate? It can climb as high as 35%. We’ve seen families pay hundreds of thousands in Washington estate taxes without ever realizing they were on the hook.

How the Washington Estate Tax Works

• Exemption threshold: $3 million (much lower than the federal estate tax exemption).
• Assets included: Real estate, investments, cash, and even life insurance proceeds.
• Tax rate: Up to 35%, depending on the size of the estate.

If your total assets exceed the exemption amount, your estate may owe significant taxes before your heirs receive anything.

Why So Many People Miss This

The Washington estate tax is separate from federal estate taxes, and because the exemption is so much lower, many residents are surprised to learn they’re affected. Even modest estates can exceed $3 million once you add up property values, retirement accounts, and insurance.

Check Your Exposure in 60 Seconds

We created a free Washington Estate Tax Calculator to help you quickly see whether your estate might owe taxes. In less than a minute, you’ll get:

• An instant estimate of potential Washington estate tax liability.
• A clear picture of what’s included in the calculation.
• Insight into steps you can take to reduce or eliminate the tax.

No calls. No forms. Just straightforward answers.

The Good News: Estate Taxes Can Be Reduced

With the right planning, it’s often possible to significantly reduce—or even eliminate—Washington estate taxes. Tools like trusts, gifting strategies, and asset planning can make a major difference.

The sooner you start, the more options you’ll have to protect your estate from unnecessary taxes, court involvement, and family conflict.

Take the first step today:
Check your potential tax liability using our free Washington Estate Tax Calculator and explore your options to protect what you’ve built.