A plain-language definition, not a conclusion about a document or case. Read the term in its full legal context.
Plain-English meaning
Estate Tax
A tax imposed on the transfer of a taxable estate, rather than on a beneficiary's individual receipt alone.
Why the term matters
Federal and possible state estate-tax rules can affect returns, elections, valuations, liquidity, and planning.
Do not confuse it with
Estate tax, inheritance tax, income tax, and capital-gain rules are different systems with different taxpayers and filing triggers.