2015 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 12 - Taxation
Chapter 216 - Succession and Transfer Taxes
Section 12-344 - Rates.

(a) The tax imposed under the provisions of this chapter shall be at the following rates: Class AA, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section with respect to the net taxable estate passing to the surviving spouse of any transferor whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1986, the net taxable estate of any transferor passing to any husband or wife, in excess of three hundred thousand dollars in value to and including four hundred thousand dollars, five per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars to and including six hundred thousand dollars, six per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars to and including one million dollars, seven per cent thereof; and on the amount in excess of one million dollars, eight per cent thereof: Class A, subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section with respect to the net taxable estate passing to any such class A beneficiary of any transferor whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1997, the net taxable estate of any transferor passing to any parent, grandparent, adoptive parent and any natural or adopted descendant, in excess of fifty thousand dollars in value to and including one hundred fifty thousand dollars, shall be three per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars to and including two hundred fifty thousand dollars, four per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to and including four hundred thousand dollars, five per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars to and including six hundred thousand dollars, six per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars to and including one million dollars, seven per cent thereof; and on the amount in excess of one million dollars, eight per cent thereof: Class B, subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section with respect to the net taxable estate passing to any such class B beneficiary of any transferor whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1999, the net taxable estate of any transferor passing to the husband or wife or widower or widow who has not remarried of any natural or adopted child of such transferor, to any stepchild, brother or sister of the full or half blood or adopted brother or sister and to any natural or adopted descendant of such brother or sister, in excess of six thousand dollars shall be subject to a tax of four per cent to and including twenty-five thousand dollars; the tax on the amount passing to relatives of this class in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars to and including one hundred fifty thousand dollars shall be five per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars to and including two hundred fifty thousand dollars, six per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to and including four hundred thousand dollars, seven per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars to and including six hundred thousand dollars, eight per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars to and including one million dollars, nine per cent thereof; and on the amount in excess of one million dollars, ten per cent thereof: Class C, subject to the provisions of subsection (e) of this section with respect to the net taxable estate passing to any such class C beneficiary of a transferor whose death occurs on or after January 1, 2001, the net taxable estate of any transferor passing to any person, corporation or association, not included in either Class AA, Class A or Class B, in excess of one thousand dollars, and not otherwise exempt, shall be subject to a tax of eight per cent to and including twenty-five thousand dollars; the tax on the amount passing to beneficiaries in this class, in excess of twenty-five thousand dollars to and including one hundred fifty thousand dollars, shall be nine per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of one hundred fifty thousand dollars to and including two hundred fifty thousand dollars, ten per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars to and including four hundred thousand dollars, eleven per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars to and including six hundred thousand dollars, twelve per cent thereof; on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars to and including one million dollars, thirteen per cent thereof; and on the amount in excess of one million dollars, fourteen per cent thereof. Only one exemption as provided in this section for each class shall apply to the net estate passing to all beneficiaries or distributees in such class. The value of all taxable transfers to a beneficiary or distributee shall be aggregated for the purpose of computing the tax and exemptions.

(b) The tax under this section applicable to the net taxable estate of any transferor passing to the surviving spouse of such transferor shall, with respect to the estate of any transferor whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1986, be imposed as follows: (1) If the death of the transferor occurs on or after July 1, 1986, but prior to July 1, 1987, the net taxable estate passing to the surviving spouse of such transferor shall be subject to tax at the rate of (A) three per cent on the amount in excess of three hundred thousand dollars in value to and including four hundred thousand dollars, (B) four per cent on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars in value to and including six hundred thousand dollars, (C) five per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars and (D) six per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (2) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after July 1, 1987, but prior to July 1, 1988, the net taxable estate passing to the surviving spouse of such transferor shall be subject to tax at the rate of (A) one and one-half per cent on the amount in excess of three hundred thousand dollars in value to and including four hundred thousand dollars, (B) two per cent on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars in value to and including six hundred thousand dollars, (C) two and one-half per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars and (D) three per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, and (3) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after July 1, 1988, the net taxable estate passing to the surviving spouse of such transferor shall not be subject to tax under this chapter.

(c) The tax under this section, applicable to the net taxable estate of any transferor, whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1997, passing to a class A beneficiary shall be imposed as follows: (1) If the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 1997, but prior to January 1, 1998, at the rate of (A) five per cent on the amount in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars in value to and including four hundred thousand dollars, (B) six per cent on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars in value to and including six hundred thousand dollars, (C) seven per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars and (D) eight per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (2) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 1998, but prior to January 1, 1999, at the rate of (A) six per cent on the amount in excess of five hundred thousand dollars in value to and including six hundred thousand dollars, (B) seven per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars and (C) eight per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (3) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2000, at the rate of (A) seven per cent on the amount in excess of eight hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars and (B) eight per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (4) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 2000, but prior to January 1, 2001, at the rate of eight per cent on the amount in excess of two million dollars in value and (5) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 2001, the net taxable estate passing to a class A beneficiary shall not be subject to tax under this chapter.

(d) The tax under this section applicable to the net taxable estate of any transferor, whose death occurs on or after January 1, 1999, passing to a class B beneficiary shall be imposed as follows: (1) If the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 1999, but prior to January 1, 2000, at the rate of (A) six per cent on the amount in excess of two hundred thousand dollars in value to and including two hundred fifty thousand dollars, (B) seven per cent on the amount in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars in value to and including four hundred thousand dollars, (C) eight per cent on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars in value to and including six hundred thousand dollars, (D) nine per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars, and (E) ten per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (2) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 2000, but prior to January 1, 2001, at the rate of (A) eight per cent on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars in value to and including six hundred thousand dollars, (B) nine per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars, and (C) ten per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (3) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 2001, but prior to January 1, 2005, at the rate of (A) nine per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars, and (B) ten per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (4) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 2005, the net taxable estate passing to a class B beneficiary shall not be subject to tax under this chapter.

(e) The tax under this section applicable to the net taxable estate of any transferor, whose death occurs on or after January 1, 2001, passing to a class C beneficiary shall be imposed as follows: (1) If the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 2001, but prior to January 1, 2005, at the rate of (A) ten per cent on the amount in excess of two hundred thousand dollars in value to and including two hundred fifty thousand dollars, (B) eleven per cent on the amount in excess of two hundred fifty thousand dollars in value to and including four hundred thousand dollars, (C) twelve per cent on the amount in excess of four hundred thousand dollars in value to and including six hundred thousand dollars, (D) thirteen per cent on the amount in excess of six hundred thousand dollars in value to and including one million dollars, and (E) fourteen per cent on the amount in excess of one million dollars in value, (2) if the death of the transferor occurs on or after January 1, 2005, the net taxable estate passing to a class C beneficiary shall not be subject to tax under this chapter.

(1949 Rev., S. 2026; 1949, S. 1143d; 1957, P.A. 555, S. 1, 2; 1959, P.A. 571, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 603; 642, S. 10; P.A. 73-309, S. 1, 2; P.A. 78-371, S. 2, 6; P.A. 85-159, S. 6, 19; 85-469, S. 4, 6; P.A. 86-397, S. 6, 10; P.A. 95-256, S. 1; Nov. 15 Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1, S. 1, 2; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-1, S. 94; P.A. 05-251, S. 66; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3, S. 50.)

History: 1959 act included widower or widow of child who has not remarried in Class B; 1963 acts clarified status of adopted children and their descendants and changed Class A tax rate on amounts over $150,000 to and including $250,000 from 5% to 4%; P.A. 73-309 included estates passing to brother or sister of adopted brother or sister, applicable to estates of all persons dying on or after July 1, 1973 (estates of persons dying before that date are subject to succession tax laws previously applicable and continued in force for that purpose); P.A. 78-371 changed lower amount in Class AA 3% tax rate from $50,000 to $100,000, changed lower amount in Class A 2% tax rate from $10,000 to $20,000 and changed lower amount in Class C tax rate from $500 to $1,000, effective July 1, 1978, and applicable to estate of any person dying on or after that date (estates of persons dying before that date are subject to succession and transfer tax laws previously applicable); P.A. 85-159 increased the minimum value of the net taxable estate subject to taxation under Class AA to $300,000 and under Class A to $50,000 for the estate of any person dying on or after July 1, 1985; P.A. 85-469 revised effective date of P.A. 85-159 but without affecting this section; P.A. 86-397 added Subsec. (b) reducing the rates of tax applicable to the net taxable estate of any transferor passing to the surviving spouse of such transferor in the following manner: The first reduction, in the amount of approximately one-third of applicable rates preceding reduction, is effective with respect to such estates of transferors whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1986, the second reduction, in the amount of approximately one-half of applicable rates preceding reduction, is effective with respect to such estates of transferors whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1987, and the tax is eliminated with respect to such estates of transferors whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1988, effective June 11, 1986, and applicable to the estate of any transferor whose death occurs on or after July 1, 1986; P.A. 95-256 added new Subsecs. (c), (d) and (e) to increase the exemption amount and phase out tax over a five-year period for class A, B and C beneficiaries, respectively, and made technical changes to Subsec. (a); Nov. 15 Sp. Sess. P.A. 01-1 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) to delay by one year the phase-out of tax after January 1, 2002, for class B and class C beneficiaries and to make technical changes, effective November 20, 2001; June 30 Sp. Sess. P.A. 03-1 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) to delay the phaseout of tax under those subsections by two years, effective August 16, 2003, and applicable to transfers from estates of decedents who die on or after March 1, 2003; P.A. 05-251 amended Subsecs. (d) and (e) to remove the tax on Class B and Class C beneficiaries, effective June 30, 2005, and applicable to estates of decedents dying after January 1, 2005; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 05-3 changed effective date of P.A. 05-251 so as to apply to estates of decedents dying “on” January 1, 2005, as well as to those of decedents dying “after” that date, effective June 30, 2005.

“Adopted child” as included in class A means legally adopted child. 147 C. 134. History of statute discussed; under former statute, class B held to include the widow of a son. Id., 178. Computation should be on basis of disposition by will rather than the distribution made under a compromise agreement entered into by the beneficiaries. Id., 406. Rate of succession tax depends not only on value of property which passes on death but on identity of inheritors of that property. 173 C. 232. For purposes of computation of succession tax, “step” relationship survives divorce of the natural parent from the stepparent and also the death of the natural parent. 184 C. 380. Cited. 210 C. 277; 215 C. 633.

Cited. 10 CA 95.

Cited. 25 CS 249; 44 CS 421.