An inheritance tax is levied when a beneficiary inherits assets from the estate of someone who died. There is no federal inheritance tax, but five states currently levy this tax: Kentucky, Maryland, ...

State inheritance taxes can affect heirs even when federal estate taxes are avoided, making careful planning essential.

That’s particularly true in a handful of states where an inheritance tax still applies. Unlike federal estate taxes, which affect only the ultrawealthy, these state-level taxes can hit ordinary heirs.

Republicans are mounting a full-court press to axe the federal inheritance tax as part of the package they’re preparing to extend President Trump’s 2017 tax cuts. Rep. Randy Feenstra, an Iowa ...