Missouri Estate Taxes

The Missouri estate tax is designed to absorb the federal estate tax credit for state death taxes. No additional estate tax is imposed.

If the federal estate tax is repealed, then no tax will be imposed on the transfer of a decedent's estate in Missouri as of the effective date of the federal estate tax repeal.

Deductions. The federal estate tax deductions are built into Missouri's estate tax laws.

Returns. An executor of a resident decedent's estate must file a Missouri estate tax return within nine months of the decedent's death if a federal estate tax return must be filed. The same applies when the estate involves a nonresident decedent, except that a Missouri estate tax return is required only if the portion of the taxable estate located in Missouri is valued over $10,000.

Any taxes that are due must be paid by the deadline for filing an estate tax return (including filing extensions). If an election is made to pay federal estate taxes owed in installments, Missouri tax may be paid at the same time and in the same manner (plus interest, of course).

Generation-skipping transfer tax. Missouri imposes a generation-skipping transfer tax that is equal to the federal credit.