Skip to content

General education, not advice for your situation.

Carry Forward Learning Start here Intern0 XP

Internal Revenue Code · 26 U.S.C.

§ 2106. Taxable estate

In force Text current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026) release point 119-121

Official text, no changes From the Office of the Law Revision Counsel, release point 119-121 (current through Public Law 119-121 (October 9, 2026)). Compare it with the official text at uscode.house.gov (external site).

Cite as 26 U.S.C. § 2106

At a glance

Read from the text, the source credit and the official notes. Not part of the law.

Status
In force
Enacted
September 2, 1958 by Pub. L. 85–866
Last amended
March 23, 2018 by Pub. L. 115–141
Amendments
12 dated changes in the source credit
Length
2 subsections · 1,122 words · about 5 min to read
Defines
1 term
Cross-references
cites 12; cited by 7 Code sections and 11 other regulations
Regulations
2 issued under this section
(a) Definition of taxable estate For purposes of the tax imposed by section 2101, the value of the taxable estate of every decedent nonresident not a citizen of the United States shall be determined by deducting from the value of that part of his gross estate which at the time of his death is situated in the United States—
(1) Expenses, losses, indebtedness, and taxes

That proportion of the deductions specified in sections 2053 and 2054 (other than the deductions described in the following sentence) which the value of such part bears to the value of his entire gross estate, wherever situated. Any deduction allowable under section 2053 in the case of a claim against the estate which was founded on a promise or agreement but was not contracted for an adequate and full consideration in money or money’s worth shall be allowable under this paragraph to the extent that it would be allowable as a deduction under paragraph (2) if such promise or agreement constituted a bequest.

(2) Transfers for public, charitable, and religious uses
(A) In general The amount of all bequests, legacies, devises, or transfers (including the interest which falls into any such bequest, legacy, devise, or transfer as a result of an irrevocable disclaimer of a bequest, legacy, devise, transfer, or power, if the disclaimer is made before the date prescribed for the filing of the estate tax return)—
(i) to or for the use of the United States, any State, any political subdivision thereof, or the District of Columbia, for exclusively public purposes;
(ii) to or for the use of any domestic corporation organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, including the encouragement of art and the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, no part of the net earnings of which inures to the benefit of any private stockholder or individual, which is not disqualified for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) by reason of attempting to influence legislation, and which does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office; or
(iii) to a trustee or trustees, or a fraternal society, order, or association operating under the lodge system, but only if such contributions or gifts are to be used within the United States by such trustee or trustees, or by such fraternal society, order, or association, exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes, or for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals, such trust, fraternal society, order, or association would not be disqualified for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) by reason of attempting to influence legislation, and such trustee or trustees, or such fraternal society, order, or association, does not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distributing of statements), any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office;
(B) Powers of appointment

Property includible in the decedent’s gross estate under section 2041 (relating to powers of appointment) received by a donee described in this paragraph shall, for purposes of this paragraph, be considered a bequest of such decedent.

(C) Death taxes payable out of bequests

If the tax imposed by section 2101, or any estate, succession, legacy, or inheritance taxes, are, either by the terms of the will, by the law of the jurisdiction under which the estate is administered, or by the law of the jurisdiction imposing the particular tax, payable in whole or in part out of the bequests, legacies, or devises otherwise deductible under this paragraph, then the amount deductible under this paragraph shall be the amount of such bequests, legacies, or devises reduced by the amount of such taxes.

(D) Limitation on deduction

The amount of the deduction under this paragraph for any transfer shall not exceed the value of the transferred property required to be included in the gross estate.

(E) Disallowance of deductions in certain cases

The provisions of section 2055(e) shall be applied in the determination of the amount allowable as a deduction under this paragraph.

(F) Cross references
(i) For option as to time for valuation for purposes of deduction under this section, see section 2032.
(ii) For exemption of certain bequests for the benefit of the United States and for rules of construction for certain bequests, see section 2055(g).
(iii) For treatment of gifts and bequests to or for the use of Indian tribal governments (or their subdivisions), see section 7871.
(3) Marital deduction

The amount which would be deductible with respect to property situated in the United States at the time of the decedent’s death under the principles of section 2056.

(4) State death taxes

The amount which bears the same ratio to the State death taxes as the value of the property, as determined for purposes of this chapter, upon which State death taxes were paid and which is included in the gross estate under section 2103 bears to the value of the total gross estate under section 2103. For purposes of this paragraph, the term “State death taxes” means the taxes described in section 2058(a).

(b) Condition of allowance of deductions

No deduction shall be allowed under paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (a) in the case of a nonresident not a citizen of the United States unless the executor includes in the return required to be filed under section 6018 the value at the time of his death of that part of the gross estate of such nonresident not situated in the United States.

(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 398; Pub. L. 85–866, title I, § 30(d), Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1631; Pub. L. 86–779, § 4(c), Sept. 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 1000; Pub. L. 89–809, title I, § 108(e), Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1572; Pub. L. 91–172, title II, § 201(d)(2), (4)(B), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 561; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIII, § 1307(d)(1)(B)(iii), (C), title XIX, § 1902(a)(5), (12)(A), title XX, § 2001(c)(1)(F), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1727, 1805, 1852; Pub. L. 97–473, title II, § 202(b)(6), Jan. 14, 1983, 96 Stat. 2610; Pub. L. 99–514, title XIV, § 1422(c), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2717; Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10711(a)(4), Dec. 22, 1987, 101 Stat. 1330–464; Pub. L. 100–647, title V, § 5033(c), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3672; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, § 7815(d)(3), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2415; Pub. L. 107–16, title V, § 532(c)(8), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 75; Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(95)(A)(ii), Dec. 19, 2014, 128 Stat. 4051; Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(203), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1194.)

Terms defined here

Where the text says “the term … means”. Select a term to jump to its definition.

Regulations under this section

Treasury regulations (26 CFR) issued under § 2106

Cross-references

Computed from the citations in the text of Title 26 and 26 CFR.

This section cites 12 other sections

Cited by 7 Code sections

Cited in 11 regulations not issued under it

Amendment history

From the source credit and the official notes, newest first.

  1. Amended by Pub. L. 115–141Parts changed in 2018: (a)(4)
  2. Amended by Pub. L. 113–295Parts changed in 2014: (a)(4)
  3. Amended by Pub. L. 107–16Parts changed in 2001: (a)(4)
  4. Amended by Pub. L. 101–239Parts changed in 1989: (a)(3)
  5. Amended by Pub. L. 100–647Parts changed in 1988: (a)(3)
  6. Amended by Pub. L. 100–203Parts changed in 1987: (a)(2)(A)(ii)
  7. Amended by Pub. L. 99–514Parts changed in 1986: (a)(2)(F)(ii)
  8. Amended by Pub. L. 97–473Parts changed in 1983: (a)(2)(F)
  9. Amended by Pub. L. 94–455Parts changed in 1976: (a)(2)(A)(i) (a)(2)(A)(ii) (a)(2)(A)(iii) (a)(2)(F) (a)(3) (c)
  10. Amended by Pub. L. 91–172Parts changed in 1969: (a)(2)(A)(ii) (a)(2)(E)
  11. Amended by Pub. L. 89–809Parts changed in 1966: (a)(3)
  12. Amended by Pub. L. 86–779Parts changed in 1960: (a)(3)
  13. Enacted by Pub. L. 85–866Parts changed in 1958: (a)(2)(E)

Where it sits in the Code

  1. Subtitle B Estate and Gift Taxes
  2. Chapter 11 ESTATE TAX
  3. Subchapter B Estates of Nonresidents Not Citizens

Nearby sections

Official notes

Show the Law Revision Counsel's notes (amendments, effective dates)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 115–141 inserted “section” before “2058(a).”

2014—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 113–295 substituted “2058(a)” for “section 2011(a)”.

2001—Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 107–16 added par. (4).

1989—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 101–239 struck out “allowed where spouse is citizen” after “deduction” in heading.

1988—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 100–647 added par. (3).

1987—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 100–203 inserted “(or in opposition to)” after “on behalf of”.

1986—Subsec. (a)(2)(F)(ii). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “section 2055(g)” for “section 2055(f)”.

1983—Subsec. (a)(2)(F). Pub. L. 97–473 substituted “(i)” and “(ii)” for “(1)” and “(2)”, respectively, and added cl. (iii).

1976—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(i). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1902(a)(12)(A), struck out “Territory” after “any State”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1307(d)(1)(B)(iii), substituted “which is not disqualified for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) by reason of attempting to influence legislation” for “no substantial part of the activities of which is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation” after “stockholder or individual”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1307(d)(1)(C), substituted “such trust, fraternal society, order, or association would not be disqualified for tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) by reason of attempting to influence legislation” for “no substantial part of the activities of such trustee or trustees, or of such fraternal society, order, or association, is carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation” after “children or animals”.

Subsec. (a)(2)(F). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1902(a)(5)(A), substituted “Cross references” for “Other cross references” after “(F)”, in cl. (1) “purposes of deduction under this section” for “purpose of deduction under this paragraph” after “valuation for”, in cl. (2) provision for exemption of certain bequests for benefit of United States and for rules of construction for certain bequests, for provisions of cls. (2) to (11) relating to bequests to; Library of Congress, Post Office Department, Office of Naval Records and Library, National Park Service, Department of State, Department of Justice, payment of tax on bequests of United States obligations, Naval Academy, Naval Academy Museum, and National Archives Trust Fund Board, respectively.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 94–455, § 2001(c)(1)(F), struck out par. (3) relating to specific exemption in case of decedents nonresidents not citizens.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455, § 1902(a)(5)(B), struck out subsec. (c) relating to treatment of United States bonds in determining gross estate of a decedent who was not engaged in business in the United States at the time of his death.

1969—Subsec. (a)(2)(A)(ii), (iii). Pub. L. 91–172, § 201(d)(4)(B), inserted non-participation and non-intervention in political campaigns as an additional qualification.

Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 91–172, § 201(d)(2), substituted substantive provisions for simple reference to sections 503 and 681 of this title in which such substantive provisions were formerly set out.

1966—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 89–809 substituted “$30,000” for “$2,000” as size of exemption in subpar. (A) and “$30,000” for “$2,000” as item (i) in formula set out in subpar. (B).

1960—Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 86–779 designated existing provisions as subpar. (A) and added subpar. (B).

1958—Subsec. (a)(2)(E). Pub. L. 85–866 substituted “503” for “504”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2014 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a savings provision, see section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 2001 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 107–16 applicable to estates of decedents dying, and generation-skipping transfers, after Dec. 31, 2004, see section 532(d) of Pub. L. 107–16, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title.

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–239 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100–647, to which such amendment relates, see section 7817 of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–647 applicable to estates of decedents dying after Nov. 10, 1988, see section 5033(d)(1) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 2056 of this title.

Effective Date of 1987 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 100–203 applicable with respect to activities after Dec. 22, 1987, see section 10711(c) of Pub. L. 100–203, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to transfers and contributions made after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1422(e) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 2055 of this title.

Effective Date of 1983 Amendment

For effective date of amendment by Pub. L. 97–473, see section 204(3) of Pub. L. 97–473, set out as an Effective Date note under section 7871 of this title.

Effective Date of 1976 Amendment

Amendment by section 1902(a)(5), (12)(A) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable in the case of estates of decedents dying after Oct. 4, 1976, see section 1902(c)(1) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2012 of this title.

Amendment by section 2001(c)(1)(F) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable to estates of decedents dying after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 2001(d)(1) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2001 of this title.

Effective Date of 1969 Amendment

Amendment by section 201(d)(2) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable in the case of decedents dying after Dec. 31, 1969, with specified exceptions, see section 201(g)(4) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.

Amendment by section 201(d)(4)(B) of Pub. L. 91–172 applicable to gifts and transfers made after Dec. 31, 1969, see section 201(g)(4) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as a note under section 170 of this title.

Effective Date of 1966 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 89–809 applicable with respect to estates of decedents dying after Nov. 13, 1966, see section 108(i) of Pub. L. 89–809, set out as a note under section 2101 of this title.

Effective Date of 1960 Amendment

Pub. L. 86–779, § 4(e)(2), Sept. 14, 1960, 74 Stat. 1000, provided that: “The amendments made by subsections (b) and (c) [enacting section 2209 of this title and amending this section] shall apply with respect to estates of decedents dying after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 14, 1960].”

Application of Amendments by Section 5033 of Pub. L. 100–647 to Estates of, or Gifts by, Noncitizen and Nonresident Individuals

For provisions directing that in the case of the estate of, or gift by, an individual who was not a citizen or resident of the United States but was a resident of a foreign country with which the United States has a tax treaty with respect to estate, inheritance, or gift taxes, the amendments made by section 5033 of Pub. L. 100–647 shall not apply to the extent such amendments would be inconsistent with the provisions of such treaty relating to estate, inheritance, or gift tax marital deductions, but that in the case of the estate of an individual dying before the date 3 years after Dec. 19, 1989, or a gift by an individual before the date 3 years after Dec. 19, 1989, the requirement of the preceding provision that the individual not be a citizen or resident of the United States shall not apply, see section 7815(d)(14) of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 2056 of this title.