What an estate planning CPA does
- Projects your estate and gift tax exposure and models ways to reduce it.
- Plans gifting, including using the annual exclusion and the lifetime exemption.
- Plans cost basis, so heirs benefit from the step-up at death where possible.
- Prepares the gift, estate, and fiduciary tax returns (Forms 709, 706, and 1041).
CPA vs attorney: who does what
Attorney
Drafts the wills, trusts, and powers of attorney.
CPA
Models the tax outcomes, prepares the returns (Forms 709, 706, and 1041), and plans basis and gifting.
Most families with meaningful assets need both.
The 2026 exemption and why it matters
The 2026 estate and gift tax exemption is $15 million per person ($30 million for a married couple), plus a separate annual gift exclusion (currently $19,000 per recipient). Planning is largely about using these deliberately, through gifting and trusts, while they apply.
Why Washington estate tax matters even under the $15M federal exemption
Washington levies its own estate tax, separate from the federal one, and it starts at a $3 million exemption per person, far below the $15 million federal figure. Washington does not allow portability between spouses, so a married couple can lose one spouse's $3 million exemption without a credit shelter trust. A paid-off Snohomish or King County home, a retirement account, and life insurance can put an estate over $3 million while staying well under the federal threshold.
Advanced strategies we model
Beyond basic gifting, we model:
- Intentionally defective grantor trust: moves appreciating assets out of your estate so future growth passes to heirs.
- Valuation discounts: lower the taxable value of closely held or family business interests.
- Basis planning: position assets for the step-up at death where possible.
- Fiduciary accounting: formal principal and income accounting for trustees and executors.
How we handle the tax side of your estate plan
We run the tax modeling, prepare the returns, and coordinate with your attorney and financial advisor, for families across Seattle, Everett, and Snohomish County.
“A brilliant trust document only works if the tax math and filings actually support it. We ensure your attorney's legal framework translates seamlessly into your tax reality, especially when navigating the upcoming changes to the $15 million exemption.”
“I have owned my business since 1984. My previous accountant retired and I really had no idea what to do. My late husband always handled this. I hired another accountant but that was a disaster. I am so happy I found Maris and Associates.”
What this costs
Engagements range from a one-time projection to ongoing gift and trust return work. We quote it up front, scaled to the complexity.
The attorney's documents and the tax math have to match. A CPA on the tax side keeps the plan from failing in the filings or the basis.
Talk to an estate planning CPA
Tell us roughly what your estate looks like and whether you have documents in place, and we will map the tax side and coordinate with your attorney.
Reviewed by Sara Stegall, JD. Tax Attorney at Maris & Associates CPAs, Everett, WA. Advises individuals and families on trust and estate taxation, entity structuring, and complex tax law research.