Do I have to pay taxes when I inherit money?
Michael Gray
Updated on March 09, 2026
Inheritances are not considered income for federal tax purposes, whether you inherit cash, investments or property. However, any subsequent earnings on the inherited assets are taxable, unless it comes from a tax-free source.
Do you pay state tax on inheritance?
Inheritance tax is a state tax on assets inherited from someone who died. For federal tax purposes, inheritance generally isn’t considered income. But in some states, an inheritance can be taxable. The person who inherits the assets pays the inheritance tax.
Who pays tax on inherited money?
Introduction. An inheritance tax is a state tax that you pay when you receive money or property from the estate of a deceased person. Unlike the federal estate tax, the beneficiary of the property is responsible for paying the tax, not the estate.
Are there any states that collect inheritance tax?
The U.S. states that collect an inheritance tax as of 2019 are Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Each has its own laws dictating who is exempt from the tax, who will have to pay it, and how much they’ll have to pay.
Do you have to pay tax on money you inherit?
You don’t usually pay tax on anything you inherit at the time you inherit it. You may need to pay: Income Tax on profit you later earn from your inheritance, eg dividends from shares or rental income from a property. Capital Gains Tax if you later sell shares or a property you inherited.
Do you have to pay inheritance tax in Maryland?
The U.S. states that collect an inheritance tax as of 2019 are Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Nebraska, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Each has its own laws dictating who is exempt from the tax, who will have to pay it, and how much they’ll have to pay. Maryland imposes both an estate tax and an inheritance tax.
Do you have to pay inheritance tax in Nebraska?
Descendants—children and grandchildren—aren’t taxed, either, in four of the six states that impose this tax. Nebraska and Pennsylvania are the exceptions. Your inheritance would be subject to the Pennsylvania inheritance tax if you inherited from your father and he lived there.