For inflation adjustment of certain items in this section, see Revenue Procedures listed in a table under section 1 of this title.

The Tax Reform Act of 1976, referred to in subsec. (b), is Pub. L. 94–455, Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1520. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Section 2521 of this title, referred to in subsec. (b), was repealed by section 2001(b)(3) of Pub. L. 94–455, applicable to gifts made after Dec. 31, 1976.

2017—Subsec. (c)(3)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 115–97, § 11002(d)(1)(CC), substituted “for ‘calendar year 2016’ in subparagraph (A)(ii)” for “for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B)”.

Subsec. (c)(3)(C). Pub. L. 115–97, § 11061(a), added subpar. (C).

2013—Subsec. (c)(4)(B)(i). Pub. L. 112–240 substituted “applicable exclusion amount” for “basic exclusion amount”.

2010—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 111–312, § 302(a)(1), amended subsec. (c) generally, substituting pars. (1) and (2) for text which provided that the applicable credit amount for purposes of this section was the amount of the tentative tax which would be determined under the rate schedule set forth in section 2001(c) if the amount with respect to which such tentative tax was to be computed were the applicable exclusion amount determined in accordance with the table, covering years 2002 to 2009, included in that text.

Subsec. (c)(2) to (6). Pub. L. 111–312, § 303(a), added pars. (2) to (6) and struck out former par. (2). Prior to amendment, text of par. (2) read as follows:

“(A) In general.—For purposes of this subsection, the applicable exclusion amount is $5,000,000.

“(B) Inflation adjustment.—In the case of any decedent dying in a calendar year after 2011, the dollar amount in subparagraph (A) shall be increased by an amount equal to—

“(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by

“(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for such calendar year by substituting ‘calendar year 2010’ for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B) thereof.

If any amount as adjusted under the preceding sentence is not a multiple of $10,000, such amount shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $10,000.”

2001—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 107–16, in table, substituted provision that in the case of estates of decedents dying during the years 2002 and 2003, the years 2004 and 2005, the years 2006, 2007, and 2008, and the year 2009, the applicable exclusion amount is $1,000,000, $1,500,000, $2,000,000, and $3,500,000, respectively, for provision that in the case of decedents dying, and gifts made, during the year 1998, the year 1999, the years 2000 and 2001, the years 2002 and 2003, the year 2004, the year 2005, and the year 2006 or thereafter, the applicable exclusion amount is $625,000, $650,000, $675,000, $700,000, $850,000, $950,000, and $1,000,000, respectively.

1997—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–34, § 501(a)(1)(A), substituted “the applicable credit amount” for “$192,800”.

Subsecs. (c), (d). Pub. L. 105–34, § 501(a)(1)(B), added subsec. (c) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (d).

1990—Subsecs. (b) to (d). Pub. L. 101–508 redesignated subsecs. (c) and (d) as (b) and (c), respectively, and struck out former subsec. (b) which provided for a phase-in of the unified credit against estate tax.

1981—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 97–34, § 401(a)(1), substituted “$192,800” for “$47,000”.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 97–34, § 401(a)(2)(A), struck out “$47,000” before “credit” from heading and in text substituted in subsec. (a) substitutions for “$192,800” amounts of “$62,800”, “$79,300”, “$96,300”, “$121,800”, and “$155,800” in the case of decedents dying in 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986, respectively, for subsec. (a) substitutions for “$47,000” amounts of “$30,000”, “$34,000”, “$38,000”, and “$42,500” in the case of decedents dying in 1977, 1978, 1979, and 1980, respectively.

Amendment by section 11002(d)(1)(CC) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 11002(e) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Amendment by section 11061(a) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to estates of decedents dying and gifts made after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 11061(c) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 2001 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 112–240 effective as if included in the amendments made by section 303 of the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111–312, see section 101(c)(3)(B) of Pub. L. 112–240, set out as a note under section 2001 of this title.

Amendment by section 302(a)(1) of Pub. L. 111–312 applicable to estates of decedents dying, generation-skipping transfers, and gifts made, after Dec. 31, 2009, see section 302(f) of Pub. L. 111–312, set out as a note under section 2001 of this title.

Pub. L. 111–312, title III, § 303(c), Dec. 17, 2010, 124 Stat. 3303, provided that:

Pub. L. 107–16, title V, § 521(e), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 72, provided that:

Amendment by Pub. L. 105–34 applicable to estates of decedents dying, and gifts made, after Dec. 31, 1997, see section 501(f) of Pub. L. 105–34, set out as a note under section 2001 of this title.

Pub. L. 97–34, title IV, § 401(c)(1), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 300, provided that: “The amendments made by subsection (a) [amending this section and section 6018 of this title] shall apply to the estates of decedents dying after December 31, 1981”.

For provisions that nothing in amendment by Pub. L. 101–508 be construed to affect treatment of certain transactions occurring, property acquired, or items of income, loss, deduction, or credit taken into account prior to Nov. 5, 1990, for purposes of determining liability for tax for periods ending after Nov. 5, 1990, see section 11821(b) of Pub. L. 101–508, set out as a note under section 45K of this title.