Source: Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA)

Thanks to the TCJA, the basic exclusion amount increased substantially for 2018 (until the year 2025) to $11,180,000 per individual estate.  A husband and wife with an AB-type living trust could exclude $22,360,000 from estate taxes under this current law.

Annual exclusion: For 2018, the annual exclusion for gift “sprinkling” to individuals increased from $14,000 (2017) to $15,000. 

As with any tax act, although this is the law now, there is no guarantee that it will remain unchanged in future tax acts.  Still, this will give relief to many taxpayers who would have otherwise been subject to estate tax upon death.