Estate Tax Exemption 2025: What Family Business Owners Need to Know

By Laura Dohanes, CPA - July 22, 2025 

Let me tell you a quick (true) story.

A client of mine in Santa Barbara runs a family business that’s been around for decades. Her goal was simple:

👉 Pass it down to her kids—no drama, no debt, no IRS nightmares.

But until last week, she thought her kids would have to sell it just to cover the estate tax bill when she passed.

Why? Because that’s what her CPA told her.

Turns out… he was dead wrong.

The Game-Changer: Estate Tax Exemption Increased

Estate Tax Exemption 2025

Thanks to the new tax bill (yes, the one with the over-the-top name—One Big Beautiful Tax Bill), the estate tax exemption just jumped to $15 million per person, and it’s permanent.

That means most family business owners just got a massive upgrade in peace of mind.

But only if their CPA actually knows what changed—and knows how to apply it.

Why This Matters

This client’s CPA? The same one her dad used. Great guy. Kind voice. Been around forever. Lived in the neighborhood.

But he was coasting.
Reading summaries. Missing strategy.
And almost let this woman sell off her legacy.

Turn the tax ship around, and you turn your life around.

Ask Yourself This

If you:

  • Own a family business
  • Have built something meaningful
  • Want to keep it in the family without a fire sale to cover taxes...

Then ask your advisor if they really understand the new estate tax rules.

If they pause? Look confused? Default to “we’ll keep an eye on it”?

🚨 That’s your sign.

This tax code change doesn’t affect everyone.
But for the families it does affect?
It means everything.


Pro Tip:

Estate planning isn’t just about wills. It’s about entity structure, gifting strategies, and leveraging tax law to protect your legacy. If your CPA isn’t actively planning with you, you could be leaving millions at risk.


What’s Next?

👉 Book a call with me and let’s talk through it.
We’ll see what applies, what doesn’t, and what you need to be doing now to protect what you’ve built.

Schedule your tax strategy call here

Want to dig deeper? Check out these resources:

📚 Read More on OBBBA Tax Changes

Stay ahead of what the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) means for your business and taxes:

Laura Dohanes, CPA

Laura Dohanes, CPA

Founder, My CPA Pro, P.C.  ·  California CPA License #129889  ·  Verify

Laura has spent more than two decades in the small business world as a tax strategist and fractional CFO, helping owners across the United States pay less tax and build lasting wealth. Her practice spans advanced tax planning, entity structuring, accounting, and CFO-level financial strategy, and she has represented more than 3,000 clients in federal and state tax audits. She also teaches financial literacy to young people, on the conviction that understanding money early changes what someone believes is possible.

Schedule a strategy session →

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