Land of Pleasant Dying?

If you die in Virginia and your estate (the net worth of your home, savings, business, investments, vehicles, etc.) is less than $5.3 millions you won’t pay any estate tax (“death tax”).

But if you die in Maryland you’ll pay 16 percent on everything in your estate above $1 million and the attorney’s, accountant’s, appraiser’s and other costs necessary to file the tax often exceed the tax, itself.

Is Maryland’s death tax causing wealthy individuals to flee the state? At first blush it doesn’t seem so, 2010 Census data shows Maryland’s population increased 9 percent (447,066) to 5.7 million during that decade. But a closer look tells a different story.
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