Category
Estate tax only
Estate tax only · exempt ~$3M · top 16%. See federal interaction, planning checklist, and heir estimates for Minnesota.
By Sammy S. · Founder · AuthorUpdated for 2026
Minnesota levies a state estate tax with an exemption of about $3M and a top rate near 16%. No separate inheritance tax. Rank #47 on this site's death-tax friendliness score (#1 is most favorable).
Category
Estate tax only
Estate exemption
$3M
Top estate rate
16%
Inheritance tax
No
Friendliness rank
#47
vs federal exemption
State lower
People domiciled in Minnesota (estate tax only) should model state rules alongside federal estate tax.
Owning a home, land, or condo in Minnesota can create situs-based filing even if you live elsewhere.
Heirs generally face no Minnesota inheritance tax; executors may still need federal forms or other-state situs returns.
Compare any two states
Estate tax, inheritance tax, exemptions, and federal interaction.
Estate rows use an illustrative top-rate sketch on amounts above the modeled exemption (actual brackets are progressive). This state has no inheritance tax—heir estimates are $0 at the state level.
| Scenario | Detail | Amount | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| $2M estate | Excess above $3M × top 16% (illustrative) | $2M | $0 illustrative |
| $5M estate | Excess above $3M × top 16% (illustrative) | $5M | ~$320,000 illustrative |
| $10M estate | Excess above $3M × top 16% (illustrative) | $10M | ~$1,120,000 illustrative |
Excess above $3M × top 16% (illustrative)
Excess above $3M × top 16% (illustrative)
Excess above $3M × top 16% (illustrative)
Yes — exemption about $3M, top rate near 16%
Minnesota’s estate exemption is $3M with a top rate near 16%. Most states do not offer federal-style portability of unused estate exemption to a surviving spouse.
Minnesota does not currently levy a state inheritance tax on beneficiaries. The inheritance tax calculator will show $0 for this state.
There is no federal inheritance tax. Federal estate tax may still apply above about $15M per person in 2026 (top rate 40%), regardless of Minnesota rules. Minnesota's state exemption ($3M) is lower than the federal figure, so state tax can apply when federal does not.
About $15M exclusion · 40% top rate
Exempt ~$3M · top 16%
None
Practical steps before you relocate, update beneficiary forms, or estimate what heirs might owe in Minnesota.
Your Minnesota exposure depends on domicile for most intangibles and situs for real estate. Document where you live and where titled property sits.
Minnesota's ~$3M exemption can bind before the ~$15M federal exclusion—model both layers.
Minnesota does not levy inheritance tax. Use the calculator only to confirm $0, then check estate-tax states if assets sit elsewhere.
Retirement accounts and life insurance often bypass probate but can still matter for Minnesota inheritance tax (where applicable) and federal estate inclusion.
Open related Minnesota comparisons below—small exemption gaps compound for mid-size estates and multi-home families.
Minnesota has no state inheritance tax. The calculator still opens pre-selected to Minnesota so you can confirm a $0 heir estimate.
Open Minnesota inheritance tax calculatorRank #46 · Estate tax only · exempt ~$3.076M
Compare Minnesota vs Washington →Rank #45 · Estate tax only · exempt ~$4M
Compare Minnesota vs Illinois →Rank #48 · Estate tax only · exempt ~$2M
Compare Minnesota vs Massachusetts →Rank #49 · Estate tax only · exempt ~$1.838M
Compare Minnesota vs Rhode Island →Confirm current Minnesota revenue department figures and situs rules. Rankings are educational planning aids.