VA risk area
Tax exposure in Virginia
State estate or inheritance tax rules and how they interact with federal thresholds.
Virginia no longer has an estate tax or inheritance tax.
Does the state impose an estate or inheritance tax?Who is exempt or receives preferential treatment?How does federal tax interact with state rules?
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Virginia's estate tax was tied to the federal state death tax credit and was effectively repealed when the credit ended.
- Virginia does not impose an inheritance tax, though limited remainder interests may still be subject to older provisions.
- With no state death tax, tax exposure is primarily federal when the estate exceeds the federal exemption.
Questions to consider
Questions this risk area helps you evaluate in Virginia
- Does the state impose an estate or inheritance tax?
- Who is exempt or receives preferential treatment?
- How does federal tax interact with state rules?
State overview
Virginia no longer has an estate tax or inheritance tax.
- Virginia's estate tax was tied to the federal state death tax credit and was effectively repealed when the credit ended.
- Virginia does not impose an inheritance tax, though limited remainder interests may still be subject to older provisions.
- With no state death tax, tax exposure is primarily federal when the estate exceeds the federal exemption.
Sources
- https://www.tax.virginia.gov/estate-and-inheritance-taxes
- https://taxfoundation.org/data/all/state/estate-inheritance-taxes/
Risk sources
- IRS inflation adjustments for tax year 2026
Use for the current federal estate tax basic exclusion amount.
- IRS Instructions for Form 706 (United States Estate Tax Return)
Defines filing requirements and federal estate tax framework.
- Tax Foundation - State estate and inheritance taxes
Current list of states with estate or inheritance taxes.
National sources provide baseline context; state statutes and court rules control in Virginia.