This study includes returns that were taxed under different years of tax provisions. In fact, about 5 percent of all returns are for decedents who died before 1993. Thus, even though recent law changes have been relatively minor in nature, users of this study should use caution in attempting to relate data to a particular estate tax law. Estate tax collections reflect payments received from several different years of Tax Law, and from several different years of decedents' death. They also include the effects of audit revenue paid to the Tax Department, and refunds paid by the Tax Department.
Many estates have taxable gifts upon which gift tax was previously paid.
Tax is then computed using the same rates and unified credit applicable for the estate tax. This report includes only estate tax returns, and therefore does not provide gift tax information. However, it does include information for gifts upon which gift tax was previously paid and includible in the decedent's estate. The following tables provide statistical information on estate tax returns processed during the 1995-96 State fiscal year.