5. Maine

• Estate tax: Yes
• Estate tax rates: 8% – 12%
• Estate tax exemption level: $6.41 million

Maine has one of the less-scary death taxes, as it only applies to estates with a value of $6.41 million or more in 2023. The estate tax threshold is adjusted each year for inflation. Since only a few people have estates that valuable, the Pine Tree State’s tax doesn’t ensnare many estates.

Maine’s death tax rates are reasonable, though, if you compare them with other states’ death tax rates on this list. The highest rate is only 12%, the same as Connecticut’s top rate, making it the lowest top rate in the US.