The applicable exclusion amount is the amount that can be sheltered from federal gift and estate tax by the unified credit. The basic exclusion amount is $13,990,000 (in 2025, $13,610,000 in 2024). In 2011 and later years, the unused applicable exclusion amount of a deceased spouse is portable which may make it easier for you and your spouse to take full advantage of the estate tax applicable exclusion amount.