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The About.com article, "What is the current estate tax rate and limits?" by Joshua Kennon presents the following information:

"According to the IRS literature, an estate tax filing need only be made if the value of an estate exceeds the following amounts:

2005: First $1,500,000 in assets
2006-2008: First $2,000,000 in assets
2009: First $3,500,000 in assets

In addition, the maximum estate tax rate applied to the amounts in excess of these figures are as follows:

2005: 47 percent
2006: 46 percent
2007- 2009: 45 percent

In 2010, the estate tax rate drops to zero percent; if you die in that year, your heirs would not pay taxes, even if you passed on $20 billion!

One caveat: Congress ensured that the law sunsets in 2011. That is, on January 1st, 2011, the estate tax rate will return to its pre-Bush levels. Practically speaking, this means the difference between dying on December 31, 2010 and January 1, 2011 can mean 55 percent of your estate if you are a person of means!"

The Congressional Research Service reported the following in March of 2008:

"The Congressional Budget Office projects that, if the estate tax is reinstated in 2011 as currently scheduled, revenue from the estate and gift taxes would climb steadily by about $7 billion per year, from $55 billion in FY2012, contributing 1.6% of total federal revenue, to $97 billion in FY2018, contributing 2.1% of total revenue."

I guess Uncle Sam sees rich dead people as a real good source of future revenues.

- Ed Smith, Publisher
The EHS Letter Manual