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New Exclusion Amount: Prior to April 1, 2014, an estate was required to file a New York State estate tax return if the total of the federal gross estate plus the federal adjusted taxable gifts and specific exemption exceeded $1 million (the “basic exclusion amount”) and the individual was either: (i) a resident of the state at the time of death or (ii) a resident or citizen of the U.S. at the time of death but not a resident of the state, whose estate includes real or tangible personal property located in the state. (Other rules apply to individuals who were not residents or citizens of the U.S., but who died owning real or tangible personal property located in the state.)

Recent N.Y.S. legislation has increased the basic exclusion amount as follows:

• For individuals dying on or after April 1, 2014 and before April 1, 2015 - $2,062,500
• For individuals dying on or after April 1, 2015 and before April 1, 2016 - $3,125,000
• For individuals dying on or after April 1, 2016 and before April 1, 2017 - $4,187,500
• For individuals dying on or after April 1, 2017 and before January 1, 2019 - $5,250,000

After January 1, 2019, the basic exclusion amount will be indexed for inflation from 2010, which should link the state exclusion amount to the federal amount.