The State of State Death Taxes

Do you realize California might be $1 billion per year less broke if it still collected the "pickup" estate tax that most states used to levy? So claims a rant at the Daily Koz.

Before 2005, the federal estate tax offered a credit for state death taxes paid. What the states collected cost the heirs of deceased residents "nothing." If a state didn't take the money, the feds would.

Currently, some states states collect estate taxes anyway. CCH offers a state-by-state guide.