The Numbers That Change Minds

 Federal Estate-Tax Exemption ≈ $13.61M Per Person (2025) • Washington Top State Rate Up to 35% • Arizona Adds Zero State Estate Tax

For many families, the decision to relocate becomes clear the moment they see the actual numbers.
Estate taxes aren’t theoretical — they’re real, unavoidable, and in high-tax states, they amount to millions of dollars lost unnecessarily.

Arizona changes that.
Here’s how the math works.

The federal estate-tax exemption for 2025 is approximately:

$27.22 million for married couples

Anything above that amount may be taxed at up to 40%.

This applies no matter where you live.

But depending on your state, federal tax may be only the beginning.

Washington State has one of the harshest estate-tax systems in the United States.
Key facts:

• $3 million exemption (far below the federal threshold)
   
• Marginal rates running 10% to 35%
   
• Applies in addition to federal tax
   
• Can add millions of dollars to your family’s tax burden
   

For estates above $10M, Washington’s additional state estate tax often results in:

• Double taxation at death
   
• Effective tax rates exceeding 45–55%
   
• Large forced sales of assets to cover tax liabilities
   
• Loss of real estate, business equity, or investment value
   

Arizona imposes:

If you’re domiciled in Arizona, your estate is subject to federal tax only, not a punitive state tax on top of it.

This one difference alone can drop your effective estate-tax rate by 10–20 percentage points.

In a high-tax state (like Washington):

• Federal tax: ≈ $13.5M
   
• State estate tax: ≈ $6.0M
   
• Total tax: ≈ $19.5 million
   

In Arizona:

• Federal tax: ≈ $13.5M
   
• State estate tax: $0
   
• Total tax: ≈ $13.5 million
   

High-tax state:

• Combined federal + state tax ≈ $48 million
   

Arizona:

• Federal tax only ≈ $30 million
   

Simply by changing domicile.

Because numbers don’t lie.
Once you understand how much of your estate is at risk, the choice becomes obvious:

• Live in a state that taxes your estate twice, or
   
• Live in a state that taxes it once — and lets your heirs keep the difference.
   

Arizona provides a transparent, modern, and estate-friendly legal environment that protects:

• Family wealth
   
• Real estate equity
   
• Business ownership
   
• Investment portfolios
   
• Charitable intentions
   
• Multi-generational legacies
   

We guide clients through a complete, seamless transition:

• Establish Arizona domicile
   
• Align estate plans and trust documents
   
• Optimize property ownership and titling
   
• Coordinate with CPAs, attorneys, and wealth advisors
   
• Manage your relocation, home search, and compliance
   

You make one move — and the savings compound for generations.

The numbers don’t just influence decisions — they drive them.
In high-tax states, families can lose millions more than necessary.
In Arizona, that burden disappears overnight.

Your legacy deserves the smarter jurisdiction.
Your heirs deserve the difference.

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