Inheritance tax: Make the case for and against

[mUUser]

Do you pay tithing for the tax benefit?

Not necessarily, but I'd consider switching from gross to net and still sleep well at night.

[Jacob]

Well.. I'm against all double taxing.

Then you'd have to eliminate 3 of the following 4:
Income tax
sales tax
property tax
FICA taxes

As for whether the estate tax is a double tax...yes and no.
The transfer to the next generation could easily be included in the gross income of the recipient of the inheritance or the gift. Instead we have a separate gift and estate tax regime. Additionally, the current system eliminates the tax from capital gains on the transfer. For almost all people who die with an estate to pass on, the current system results in less tax than we'd have without an estate tax.
I'm happy with the current law and rates, if only we could make them permanent. But I'd cap the charitable donation if only to capture Warren Buffet's estate from his tax avoiding schemes.

[Mormon Red Death]

Then you'd have to eliminate 3 of the following 4:
Income tax
sales tax
property tax
FICA taxes

Wow... Look at that... I am against all those.