simpletaxcalculator

Home / New Jersey / Inheritance Tax

New Jersey Inheritance Tax Calculator

New Jersey is one of only 5 US states with an inheritance tax. New Jersey's inheritance tax applies to transfers of property valued at $500 or more. Class A and Class E beneficiaries are fully exempt regardless of amount; Class C and Class D have their own per-class exemptions, detailed below.

Class A — spouse, civil union/domestic partner, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, grandparents

Exempt

Class C — siblings, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law

Varies

Class D — everyone else (nieces, nephews, friends, unmarried partners, cousins)

Varies

Class E — charities, government entities, religious/educational institutions

Exempt

$
ExemptionNone
Tax rate0%
Rates updated for June 2026

New Jersey inheritance tax on $100,000

Tax owed

$0

You keep

$100,000

This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for your specific situation. Rates last verified June 2026.

Verify rates on New Jersey Division of Taxation — Inheritance and Estate Tax

New Jersey inheritance tax by relationship

Source: New Jersey Division of Taxation — Inheritance and Estate Tax.

RelationshipExemptionRate
Class A — spouse, civil union/domestic partner, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, grandparents0%
Class C — siblings, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law$25,00011%–13%–14%–16%
Class D — everyone else (nieces, nephews, friends, unmarried partners, cousins)None15%–16%
Class E — charities, government entities, religious/educational institutions0%

Frequently asked questions

What is the inheritance tax rate in New Jersey?
New Jersey's inheritance tax rate depends entirely on your relationship to the deceased. Class A — spouse, civil union/domestic partner, children, stepchildren, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, Class E — charities, government entities, religious/educational institutions are fully exempt. Other beneficiaries pay rates ranging from , depending on the beneficiary class and amount inherited. Select your relationship to the deceased above for your specific rate and exemption.
Does federal estate tax also apply in New Jersey?
Yes, separately. New Jersey's inheritance tax is a state-level tax paid by the beneficiary based on their relationship to the deceased. Federal estate tax is a completely separate tax paid by the estate itself, and only applies if the total estate exceeds $15,000,000 (2026, per individual). Fewer than 1% of estates owe federal estate tax, but it's worth checking if the estate is large. Use the federal estate tax calculator above to check.