The IRS says its estate tax statistics are compiled from Form 706. The gross estate can include real estate, cash, stocks, bonds, businesses, and decedent-owned life insurance. Allowable deductions can include administrative expenses, indebtedness, taxes, casualty loss, and charitable and marital transfers.
Form 706 gross estate composition research
The IRS categories show what the tax study measures. They do not identify a parcel, prove ownership, or show that a specific asset is in a particular estate. A real estate category in an aggregate table is not a substitute for a deed, tax record, probate filing, or other source tied to the matter.
For a document review, capture the Form 706 table or filing-year source, the category, the year, and the source note. Then keep the matter's property evidence in a separate record.
| IRS concept | Matter-level follow-up |
|---|---|
| Real estate in gross estate | Deed, assessor, tax, and probate records |
| Business interests | Entity records and transfer documents |
| Life insurance | Policy and beneficiary records |
| Indebtedness | Statements and claims |
| Deductions | Return schedules and supporting documents |
The IRS metadata article covers filing-year and year-of-death data. The estate tax state residence table shows why geographic labels require their own definitions.
Limitation
The categories support tax-study interpretation, not a national inventory of estate-owned property. A professional must determine how the tax rules and records apply to an individual matter.
Source
- Internal Revenue Service, SOI tax stats estate tax statistics, accessed August 10, 2026.
**Professional disclaimer:** This is general research, not legal, tax, appraisal, or fiduciary advice.