inheritance tax

American  

noun

1. a tax levied on the right of an heir to receive a decedent's property, the rate being a percentage of the value of the property.

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inheritance tax British  

noun

1. (in Britain) a tax introduced in 1986 to replace capital transfer tax, consisting of a percentage levied on that part of an inheritance exceeding a specified allowance, and scaled charges on gifts made within seven years of death

2. (in the US) a state tax imposed on an inheritance according to its size and the relationship of the beneficiary to the deceased

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Etymology

Origin of inheritance tax

First recorded in 1835–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

inheritance tax

However, polling frequently suggests inheritance tax is widely regarded as the least fair tax, external.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Asked about those commitments during the by-election campaign, Burnham said he did not "resile" from his previous stance on inheritance tax.

From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026

There is no federal inheritance tax, so your cash inheritance will likely not be considered taxable income.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 17, 2026

His tenure has been marked by numerous U-turns on issues big and small, from whether to issue national ID cards to an inheritance tax on farmers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 8, 2026

There was an immense inheritance tax to be paid and harassing litigation was at once begun and continued.

From The History of Woman Suffrage, Volume V by Harper, Ida Husted

Related Words

• death tax
• estate tax